Louisville football brought in 31 players from the Transfer Portal, and the ACC and college football is beginning to take notice. Jeff Brohm and this Cardinals staff created a legitimate top 15 roster as the Cardinals are ranked as high as No. 14 in ESPN’s way-too-early rankings.
The Cardinals have high expectations for next season and have a manageable schedule. Louisville fans truly believe this could be the year the Cardinals return to the ACC Championship game, and while the players they brought in are a big reason, there is no question that the players returning are just as crucial.
Louisville was on the verge of losing multiple big-time players, but Brohm and Vince Marrow were able to avoid numerous disastrous situations. ESPN recently shone a light on who the most important player returning to Louisville is, and by no surprise, they named it Isaac Brown.
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Isaac Brown labeled Louisville football's biggest returning player
The Cardinals were able to bring many key members back from last season, but bringing Brown back was season-changing for Louisville. The 2025 preseason All-American announced he was going to enter the portal, and was already named the No. 1 running back in the Transfer Portal and received a Crystal Ball to go to Texas, but Marrow worked his magic and was able to convince Brown to return.
Now, Brown will join 4-star transfer Tre Richardson and Brody Foley on this offense, along with Ohio State transfer and QB1 Lincoln Kienholz. The Cardinals' offense is expected to be highly explosive with their additions, including big-time offensive linemen, and it all sets Brown up for an All-American season.
"Brown entered his name in the transfer portal but continued to negotiate with Louisville and eventually got a deal done that will make him one of the highest-paid backs in the country. The Cardinals scored a big win as schools including Texas, Miami and Notre Dame pushed to land the speedster. Brown has rushed for 2,057 yards and scored 19 touchdowns over his first two college seasons and should compete for All-America recognition as a junior."Max Olson
Brown has spent his first two seasons with Louisville and has been nothing but dominant. Through two seasons, he has rushed for 2,057 yards and 18 touchdowns on 7.7 yards per carry and 266 carries. His best season came in 2024, when he broke multiple program records, including the true-freshman rushing yards record, and earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors after rushing for 1,173 yards on 165 carries.
Last season, Brown was limited by injury, but when he played, he guided Louisville to an 8-1 record, rushing for 884 yards on just 101 carries, averaging an astounding 8.8 yards per carry. Now, he returns to Louisville as their offensive juggernaut and is expected to be a key piece to help Louisville win its first ACC Title and secure its first College Football Playoff birth.
With the Cardinals' offense having Brown plus their 4-star wide receiver additions in Richardson and Lawayne McCoy, plus former 4-stars in Lincoln Kienholz and Marquise Davis, and then adding the additions up front in Cason Henry and Eryx Daugherty, this offense has what it takes to be one of the best in the ACC and maybe in college football.
Related: 10 biggest Transfer Portal commitments for Louisville football this offseason
For all the latest recruiting news and updates for Louisville football, stay tuned.