Earlier in the week, Louisville football suffered its biggest loss in the Transfer Portal so far this offseason, as Cardinals fans learned that star edge rusher AJ Green is entering the portal. Green is coming off his best season with the Cardinals after securing 31 tackles, six tackles for a loss, five sacks, one forced fumble, and a blocked kick.
Now, Louisville's defense will have to look to replace him this offseason when the Transfer Portal opens up on January 2. The portal will open on the second of next month and will stay open until the 16th, giving Louisville a 14-day window to try and rebuild this team through the portal, similar to how they did it last year.
After Green announced he will enter the portal, Louisville fans should check who is available now, and among their options, one target stands out.
Related: Louisville hit with massive loss as star defender enters portal after breakout season
Louisville's No. 1 target is obvious after AJ Green enters the Transfer Portal
Louisville should go all-in on North Carolina transfer, Tyler Thompson, and try to swipe the ACC star away from Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels. Thompson is coming off his best year, similar to Green, where he dominated the defensive side of the ball for UNC in his third season.
The redshirt sophomore logged 17 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and one pass deflection in 2025. While UNC fans didn't have a lot to celebrate this past season, Thompson's breakout season was one of the best storylines of the year for the Tar Heels.
UNC LB Tyler Thompson plans to enter the transfer portal, @On3sports confirmed.
— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) December 17, 2025
Thompson was second on the team with seven sacks, and he also finished the year with 26 tackles and two forced fumbles.
Updated UNC portal tracker: https://t.co/zVEgCsMUVM pic.twitter.com/uVIRuN2Ecu
Louisville is crushed. Green is leaving the program, but at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Thompson is the perfect target to replace the once Cardinal. Coming out of high school, he was a top-300 recruit, ranked No. 290 in the nation and No. 11 in North Carolina. He was ranked as high as No. 32 in the edge rusher position in the class of 2023, and he earned over 18 offers.
With his breakout potential and two years of eligibility left, Thompson is ranked No. 105 overall in the Transfer Portal by 247 Sports, and No. 62 overall and No. 7 in the Edge position by On3 Sports. The Cards will have an uphill battle trying to replace Green and his productivity from 2025, but Thompson is a perfect candidate to do so.
For all the latest recruiting news and updates for Louisville football, stay tuned.