Cardinals Ink 19 Student-Athletes on National Signing Day

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville football team signed 19 players, including seven transfers during the 2023 National Signing Day period.

First-year head coach Jeff Brohm, who was hired on Dec.8, inked 12 high school student-athletes with seven of them joining the Cards in January. Seven of the players signed were Power 5 transfers in wide receivers Jimmy Calloway (Tennessee), Jadon Thompson (Cincinnati), defensive linemen Stephen Herron (Stanford), Rodney McGraw (Penn State) and defensive backs Devin Neal (Baylor), Myles Slusher (Arkansas) and Marquis Groves-Killebrew (Texas A&M).

Thompson played three seasons at Cincinnati, catching 47 passes for 659 yards and one touchowns. He caught 27 passes for 393 yards last season with the Bearcats, while Calloway contributed three years at Tennessee.

The Cardinals added some depth on the defensive line with the additions of defensive ends Herron from Stanford and McGraw from Penn State. Neal joins the Louisville squad after coming from Baylor. Herron played four seasons at Stanford, concluding the 2022 season with 37 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Slusher appeared in six games for the Razorbacks, tallying 28 tackles, while Groves-Killebrew played in two games at Texas A&M.

According to 247Sports, the Cardinals signed five four-star prospects in offensive lineman Madden Sanker out of Douglasville, Ga. — the highest ranked offensive lineman in school history. Quarterback Pierce Clarkson and cornerback Aaron Williams from St. John Bosco, and linebacker Stanquan Clark from Miami, Fla., and defensive end Adonijah Green from Ellenwood, Ga., were all the highest rated player in the 2023 class.

The Cardinals finished the 2022 season at 8-5 after a 24-7 win over Cincinnati in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. Louisville is slated to return 15 student-athletes, who started in the bowl game.

2023 Louisville Football Signing Class

Keyjuan Brown
RB • 5-9 • 205 • Atlanta, Ga. (South Atlanta)

Consensus three-star prospect.
Rated the No. 34 running back and the No. 51 player in the state by 247Sports.
Ranked as the No. 54 player in Georgia and the No 28 running back by Rivals.com.
Scored 98 total touchdowns.
Rushed 800 times for 7,476 yards and 84 touchdowns.
Averaged 9.3 yards per carry during his career.
Caught 69 passes for 863 yards and nine touchdowns in his career.
Totaled 9,013 all-purpose yards.
Totaled 159.1 yards rushing per game.
Recorded 32 100-yard rushing games.
Rushed for 2,706 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior.
Caught 24 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns during his senior campaign.\
Named to the Touchdown Club of Atlanta's All-Star team.
Finalist for the Mr. Georgia Award, given to the top senior in the state of Georgia.
Rushed for 365 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Landmark Christian.
Rushed for 220 yards and threw a 91-yard touchdown pass against North Cobb.
Carried 22 times for 327 yards and three scores against Washington.
Averaged 13.2 yards per carry, rushing for 252 yards on 19 carries against Gray Collegiate.
Totaled 2,757 yards and 38 touchdowns as a junior.
Led the state in rushing as a junior.
Chose Louisville over Purdue, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Georgia Tech, NC State, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest.

Luke Burgess
OL • 6-8 • 285 • New Palestine, Ind. (New Palestine)

Committed in June.
Consensus three-star prospect.
Rated the No. 425 player nationally.
Ranked the 6th offensive tackle in the state of Indiana.
247Sports ranks him No. 43 at his position and No. 8 in the state.
Named an Army All-American.
Named first-team All-State
Won a state title and were three-time sectional champions.
CBS Preseason All-American.
Recorded 18 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss in 2021.
Credited with 23 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in 2020
Selected to play in the US Army Bowl
Team finished 12-1, falling in the Class 4-A state quarterfinals.
Squad averaged 193.5 yards a game rushing.
Chose Louisville over Miami, Boston College, Cincinnati, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan State, Oregon, and Tennessee.

Micah Carter
DL • 6-5 • 260 • Louisville, Ky. (St. Xavier)

Committed in December.
Consensus three-star prospect.
Rated the No. 50 defensive lineman nationally by 247 Sports.
Ranked the No. 1 prospect in the state of Kentucky by 247 Sports.
Tallied 85 tackles and 8.0 sacks in three seasons at St. Xavier.
Tallied a team-high 56 tackles (23 unassisted), seven tackles for loss and six sacks during his senior campaign.
Collected 13 tackles as a sophomore.
Recorded nine tackles in a 28-14 season-opening win over Owensboro.
Named the Most Valuable Lineman at the EKU Lineman Challenge
Suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 of his junior campaign
Collected scholarship offers from Arizona State, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Michigan State, West Virginia.

Stanquan Clark
LB • 6-2 • 215 • Miami, Fla. (Miami Central)

Ranked a four-star recruit by Rivals and a four-star by 247 Sports.
Rated the No. 146 recruit in the nation.
Ranked as the No. 38 player at linebacker and the No. 82 player in the state of Florida.
Tabbed the No. 28 linebacker in the state of Florida.
Recorded 80 tackles and 23.0 tackles for loss as a senior.
Credited with 12.0 sacks
Earned All-State recognition as a junior.
Credited 131 tackles and 24 tackles for loss during his junior season.
Recorded 38 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss as a sophomore.
Also competed in track and field.
Chose Louisville over offers from Auburn, Miami, Kentucky, and NC State.

Pierce Clarkson
QB • 6-0 • 196 • Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Committed in December.
Consensus four-star prospect.
Ranked by 247Sports as the No. 20 quarterback and the No .27 player in California.
Selected to play in the All-American Bowl.
Led John Bosco to a CIF Open Division state championship with a 45-0 win.
Team ranked No. 1 nationally.
Threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns against Mission Viejo in the state semifinals.
Led Bosco with 301 yards passing and five touchdowns in a playoff win over Orange Lutheran.
Rushed 50 times for 422 yards and five touchdowns.
Threw for 1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior.
Added 38 carries for 254 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Saadiq Clements
DL • 6-5 • 260 • Henderson, Ky. (Henderson County)

Committed in December.
Consensus three-star prospect.
Ranked by 247Sports as the No. 82 defensive lineman and the No. 5 player in Kentucky.
Named the Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and junior.
Named to the Kentucky High School Football All-State squad.
Selected the ESPN Owensboro Defensive Player of the Year.
Totaled 62 tackles and 21 sacks as a senior.
Recorded 10.5 tackles for loss.
Two-time first team All-Conference performer.
Finished at 10-3 and first in the district.
Named first team All-Area.
Led the state of Kentucky with 21 sacks.
Recorded 74 tackles and 10.5 sacks as a junior.
Forced six fumbles.
Named to the All-Area first team defensive line.
Chose Louisville over Purdue, Indiana, Florida State, Kentucky and Michigan.

William Fowles
WR • 6-2 • 195 • Hialeah, Fla. (Avant Garde Academy)

Attended Dade Christian for three years and played his final season at Avante Garde.
Owns a four-star ranking by 247 Sports.
Rated the No. 97 wide receiver and the No. 111 player in Florida.
Three-star prospect by Rivals.
Rivals rated him the No. 95 player in the state and the No. 115 wide receiver.
Played wide receiver and cornerback at Avante Garde.
Senior season was slowed by injuries.
Registered an interception for a touchdown and had a touchdown reception for a score against Sports Leadership and Management.
Caught 47 passes for 1,100 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior.
Recorded a career high seven passes for 204 yards Opa Lock Monsignor.
Chose Louisville Boston College, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Michigan State, NC State, Pitt, Texas A&M and West Virginia.

Adonijah Green
DL • 6-5 • 203 • Ellenwood, Ga. (Cedar Grove)

Played at Cedar Grove High School.
Ranked as the 45th defensive end in the state of Georgia.
Ranked as the No. 94 player at his position and the No. 97 performer in the state.
Tallied 69 total tackles and 11 sacks as a senior.
Credited with 17 tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
Recorded 73 tackles and 16,5 sacks as a junior.
Named first team All-Region.
Guided team to a 12-3 record and a Class 3-A state championship.
Chose Louisville over offers from Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia Tech.

Cataurus Hicks
WR • 5-9 • 160 • Miami, Fla. (Miami Central)

Attended Miami Central High School.
Three-star prospect by 247Sports
Ranked as the No. 150 wide receiver and the No. 153 player in Florida.
Slot receiver and return specialist.
Caught 30 passes for 485 yards and eight scores over two seasons.
Recorded 21 catches for 318 yards and four touchdowns.
Chose Louisville over offers from Tennessee, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic and Bowling Green.

Jahlil McClain
WR • 5-10 • 180 • Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Committed to the Cards in March.
Played at St. John Bosco.
Rated the No. 43 player in the state and No. 34 wide receiver by Rivals.
Consensus 3-star prospect.
Ranked as the No. 62 wide receiver and No. 38 player in the state by 247Sports.
Led St. John Bosco to a 13-1 record and a state title.
Team ranked No. 1 nationally
Caught 20 passes for 439 yards and five touchdowns as a senior.
Averaged 43.9 yards receiving per game.
Recorded three receptions for 95 yards in a win over Central Catholic from Portland, Oregon.
Grabbed three passes for 82 yards and three for 57 yards and a touchdown in two games versus Orange Lutheran.
Caught an 87-yard touchdown pass against Mission Viejo.
Recorded four receptions for 95 yards and a 47-yard touchdown pass in a 24-22 win over Mater Dei to advance to the state championship game.
Chose Louisville over offers from Arizona, Arizona State. Michigan State, Mississippi, Oregon Pittsburgh, Texas, USC, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin.

Madden Sanker
OL • 6-4 • 305 • Douglasville, Ga. (South Paulding)

Played at South Paulding High School.
Played offensive tackle.
Committed to the Cards in July.
Four-star recruit by Rivals.
Top-300 prospect in the class according to the Composite
Rated the No. 18 player in the state of Georgia.
15th-ranked offensive line prospect in the class regardless of position
247Sports Composite rating of 0.9502, is the ninth-highest ranked prospect to ever commit to Louisville in the modern recruiting era and the highest-ranked offensive lineman.
Spartans ran for 2,378 yards and 36 touchdowns, averaging 6.3 yards per carry in the process during his junior season.
Two-time state wrestling champion, and throws the shot and discus in track & field.
Recorded with a 78-inch wing span.
Named to the Touchdown Club of Atlanta All-Star Team.
Chose Louisville over offers from Arkansas, Miami, Michigan State, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Oregon, Pitt, Rutgers, Tennessee, Virginia Tech.

Aaron Williams
CB • 6-2 • 185 • Corona, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Committed in December.
Consensus four-star prospect.
Played for Corona Centennial High School before transferring to St. John Bosco for his senior season.
Rated as the No. 16 player in the state of California and the No. 20 cornerback nationally.
Ranked as the No. 199 player in the nation.
Selected to play in the All-American Bowl.
Also tabbed to play in the Polynesian Bowl.
Tallied a season best nine tackles in the team's loss to Mater Dei.
Led John Bosco to a CIF Open Division state championship.
Recorded a pick-six as Bosco downed Serra 45-0 in the CIF Open Division championship game
Team finished 13-1 and were ranked as the No. 1 team in the country.
Returned an interception in the state title game.
Credited with 32 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss as a junior.
Chose Louisville over offers from USC, UCLA, Alabama, Arkansas, BYU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Utah.

Jimmy Calloway
WR • 6-0 • 190 • Morrow, Ga. (Morrow/Tennessee)

Played three seasons at Tennessee.
Appeared in 20 career games with one start.
Caught nine passes for 124 yards and one touchdown during his UT career.
Recorded his first two catches of the year for 20 yards in win over Akro
Earned a redshirt after playing in three games in 2020, finishing the year with five receptions for 84 yards and a touchdow.
Hauled in first-career receiving TD (44 yards) and led Vols with 59 receiving yards on three catches in season debut vs. Pitt (9/11).
Saw action in eight games as a true freshman in 2020 at both wide receiver and on special teams.
Recorded his first-career reception with a 6-yard catch at No. 23 Auburn.
Notched two catches for 20 yards at Vanderbilt.
Rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 9 rated athlete in the country by the 247 composite rankings … Was a two-way standout at Morrow High School in Morrow, Georgia, seeing time at quarterback, receiver, safety and kick/ punt returns.
Led the Mustangs to their first playoff appearance in 21 years as a senior in 2019.
Tabbed to the Georgia Class 6A All-State Team as a defensive back in 2019.
Named the 2019 Region 4-6A Offensive Player of the Year and the 2019 Clayton County Player of the Year.
Named to the 2018 All-USA Tennessee First Team and the 2018 All-Region 4-6A First-Team.
Announced as the 2017 Region 4-6A Offensive Player of the Year after catching 32 passes for 684 yards and eight touchdowns, while returning three kickoffs for scores.
A member of Morrow's track and field team where he was clocked at a 10.7 in the 100-meter dash in addition to a 4.4, 40-yard dash.

Marquis Groves-Killebrew
DB • 6-0 • 180 • Kennesaw, Ga. (North Cobb/Texas A&M)

Played one season at Texas A&M.
Appeared in two games as a freshman at Texas A&M.
Made his first career collegiate appearance at South Carolina.
Recorded two tackles against Ole Miss.
Coached by Shane Queen at North Cobb High School.
4-star recruit according to all three major outlets.
Selected to participate in the 2022 All-American Bowl.
Posted 38 tackles and a pair of interceptions as a senior, leading North Cobb HS to a 10-2 record including a 5-0 mark in 7A Region 3 play as a senior.
As a sophomore, made 21 tackles and two pick-offs.

Stephen Herron
DE • 6-3 • 237 • New Albany, Ind. (Trinity/Stanford)

Played four seasons at Stanford.
Stanford Defensive Player of the Week after recording four tackles, including two sacks, and a forced fumble in Stanford's win at Notre Dame.
Appeared in eight games with four starts as a junior.
Led the team with 3.0 sacks while also making 19 tackles
Had seven tackles and a sack at Vanderbilt.
Played in six games and started each of the final two as a sophomore.
Totaled 14 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack
Career-best seven tackles (two for loss), a sack and first career forced fumble in a double-overtime win at UCLA.
Forced fumble came on UCLA's final drive and handed the Cardinal the ball with 1:38 left in regulation - allowing Stanford to drive 72 yards in 1:20 to tie the game at 34 and force overtime …
Played in three games - eligible to retain year of eligibility due to NCAA redshirt rules in 2019.
Finished with two tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss
Prepped at Trinity (Ky.) under head coach Bob Beatty
Four-star recruit by Rivals, PrepStar, ESPN and 247Sports
Nation's 88th-best recruit by PrepStar, 153rd by 247Sports, 163rd by Rivals and 172nd by ESPN
Nation's fourth-best weakside defensive end by Rivals, ninth by 247Sports
Kentucky's top-ranked recruit by PrepStar
Kentucky's second-best recruit by Rivals and ESPN, and third-best by 247Sports
PrepStar Dream Team
Three-time all-state first team (Kentucky)
Three-time all-area first team (Kentucky)
Two-time district, regional, semi-state and state champions (2016-17)
2016 all-state second team (Indiana)
2016 all-area first team (Indiana)
84 tackles (59 solo), 36 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, 48 hurries, five forced fumbles, fumble recovery, two blocked kicks as a senior.
97 tackles (26 solo), 42 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, 42 hurries, three forced fumbles, fumble recovery, two blocked kicks as a junior.
70 tackles (34 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 37 hurries, two forced fumbles as a sophomore.
75 tackles (22 solo), 15 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 12 hurries and three blocked kicks as a freshman.

Rodney McGraw
DE • 6-5 • 253 • Chicago, Ill. (Elkhart/Penn State)

Played two seasons at Penn State.
Appeared in three games as a redshirt frehman in 2022.
Recorded his first career tackle against Minnesota.
Named the Coaching Staff's Developmental Squad Offensive Player of the Game following Illinois as a freshman in 2021.
Four-year letterman for head coach Josh Shattuck at Elkhart High School
Two-time team captain...Was a three-time 6A Northern Indiana Athletic Conference All-Conference selection and a two-time All-City honoree.
Elkhart went 9-1 during senior season.
Finished senior year with 91 tackles, nine sacks, 22 tackles for loss and nine pass breakups.
Made 73 tackles and nine sacks during junior campaign.
Tallied 45 stops and four sacks as a sophomore
Rated a four-star recruit by ESPN...Ranked as the No. 31 weakside defensive end and No. 6 recruit in Indiana by 247Sports.
Rated as the No. 35 defensive end, No. 32 player in the region and No. 3 prospect in Indiana by ESPN.
Ranked as the No. 23 weakside defensive end and No. 8 recruit in Indiana by Rivals.

Devin Neal
DB • 5-11 • 202 • Lexington, Ky. (Frederick Douglass/Baylor)

Played three seasons at Baylor.
Recorded 41 tackles and two interceptions in 11 games at Baylor in 2022.
Played in 13 games, totaling 22 tackles and a forced fumble in 2021.
Set a career high with six tackles against Texas Southern.
Came within one tackle of his career high with five against West Virginia.
Played in all nine games in nine games as a freshman.
Totaled three tackles on the year.
Played for coach Brian Landis at Frederick Douglass High School.
Helped team to a 14-1 record and a state championship appearance as a senior.
Runner up for Kentucky Player of the Year.
Played both running back and safety.
70 carries for 602 yards and nine touchdowns.
79 tackles, 9.0 TFL and two interceptions.
Had 55 tackles and one interception as a junior.
247 Sports' No. 9 player in Kentucky.
ESPN's No. 13-ranked player in state … Also ran track.

Myles Slusher
DB • 6-0 • 185 • Broken Arrow, Okla. (Broken Arrow/Arkansas)

Played three seasons at Arkansas.
Appeared in six games, recording 28 tackles in 2022.
Played in 11 games with seven starts in 2021.
Tallied 50 tackles (33 solo) with 3.0 tackles for loss, including 0.5 sacks
Finished tied for second on the team in interceptions with two.
Tallied seven stops and a pass breakup against Auburn.
Picked off a pass to go along with six tackles with 1.0 tackle for loss, including 0.5 sacks, against UAPB.
Had seven tackles and a pass breakup against Mississippi State.
Carded nine stops, including 1.0 tackles for loss, at Alabama.
Career-high 10 tackles with a pass breakup against Mizzou.
Played in six games and made one start at dimeback in 2020.
Totaled 15 tackles (nine solo) with 1.0 tackle for loss.
First SEC freshman to record at least five solo tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in a game since 2011.
Played 199 snaps and earned a 65.7 defensive grade.
Four-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN.
Rated as the No. 5 safety in the country by 247Sports.
Ranked second in the state of Oklahoma by 247Sports and ESPN … Slotted in ESPN's Top 300 at 204.
Four-year varsity letterwinner at Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Recorded 26 tackles, two for loss, with one sack, an interception and four pass breakups as a senior in 2019.
Helped the Tigers to a 9-3 overall record with a semifinal appearance in the Class 6A-I Oklahoma playoffs.
Tallied 68 total stops, three TFLs, with two interceptions and a recovered fumble during his junior campaign.
Guided Broken Arrow HS to a spotless 13-0 record and the Oklahoma Class 6A-I state championship after a 28-20 victory over Jenks.
Racked up 41 total tackles, 37 solo, with four interceptions in 2017.

Jadon Thompson
WR • 6-2 • 187 • Chicago, Ill. (Naperville Central/Cincinnati)

Played three seasons at Cincinnati.
Caught 47 passes 659 yards and one touchdown.
Recorded 27 receptions for 393 yards and one score as a junior.
Totaled four catches for 68 yards versus Kennesaw State and four for 69 yards against SMU.
Caught three passes for a season-high 81 yards versus Navy.
Played in 12 games, totaling 14 catches for 208 yards in 2021
Had a career-long 47-yard grab in the opener against Miami (Ohio) as part of a career-high four grabs.
Finished with six catches for 58 yards in 2020.
Four-star prospect ranked as the No. 5 player in Illinois and a Top-60 wideout in the 2020 signing class.
Racked up 146 catches for 2,270 yards and 25 receiving touchdowns during his high-school career.
Spent his senior season prepping for Coach Mike Stine at Naperville Central HS outside of Chicago.
Earned Honorable Mention IHSFCA Class 8A All-State honors.
Tabbed for the 2019 News-Gazette First-Team All-State football squad.
Grabbed a spot on the 2019 Naperville Sun Football All-Area Team.
Named to the DuPage County All-Area Team by the Daily Herald.
Also played at Marist HS for Coach Ron Dawczak.
As a junior, he had 51 receptions for 759 yards and 10 touchdowns for a RedHawks team that finished 11-2 and qualified for the state semifinals
Had 49 catches for 854 yards and nine TDs as a sophomore.

University of Louisville Athletics

Cardinals Ink 19 Student-Athletes on National Signing Day

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