Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Cards Add Seven More Transfers to the 2026 Recruiting Class
January 12, 2026 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville football program added seven transfers to the roster, UofL head coach Jeff Brohm announced on Monday.
The Cardinals signed three defensive linemen in Tommy Ziesmer, and twin brothers Jacob and Jerod Smith. Brohm inked two offensive linemen in Johnnie Brown and Eryx Daugherty and running back in Marquise Davis and cornerback DJ Waller.
A transfer from Eastern Kentucky, Ziesmer played one season for the Colonels after spending his first two seasons at Kentucky. The former All-State prospect from Boyle County High played in 18 career games in college. One of the top 10 players statewide as a senior, Ziesmer had 83 total tackles, nine sacks, 20 tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles during his senior season. He helped Boyle County to the 2022 4-A state title.
As a true freshman at UK, Ziesmer played in two games and had one sack and one tackle for a loss against Akron. In 2024, he played in four games and, totaled two tackles for the Wildcats. Ziesmer transferred to EKU before this past season and played in all 12 games. He finished with 53 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery.
The Smith brothers transferred to Louisville after playing down the road at Kentucky. Jerod Smith became a major contributor for the Wildcats late in the season, finishing with 27 tackles and one sack. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound edge rusher played in 12 games this past season and totaled 18 solo tackles, five tackles for a loss, one sack, and one forced fumble. He also played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2024, finishing with seven tackles.
Jacob Smith recorded two tackles in two games in 2025 and played in seven career games with the Wildcats. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Smith was the No. 2-ranked player in the 247Sports Composite Rankings in the Class of 2024. Jacob was ranked as the No. 221 player nationally coming out of Corbin High.
Brown, a 6-foot-3, 315-pounder, spent three seasons at Georgia Southern, appearing in 26 games. A third-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2025, Brown started 13 games and was also a third-team All-Sun Belt choice by Phil Steele. In 2024, Brown played in all 13 games. He made the Dean's List in the fall for posting a GPA higher than 3.50. He was awarded the Tay McKibbins Memorial Walk-On Scholarship in April and was named to the 2024-25 Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.00-3.49 GPA. Brown signed with Miami in 2022 and spent a redshirt season in South Florida. He left and went to Georgia Southern following that season and didn't see action in a game the next season.
Daugherty, a transfer from Boston College, played three seasons for the Eagles before transitioning to Louisville. Daugherty, a 6-foot-3, 305-pounder, started 10 games in 2025 and didn't allow a sack. He earned a blocking grade of 67.8, and a pass block grade of 77.2. The native of Troy, Mich. appeared in three games as a redshirt freshman in 2024, including starting the Pinstripe Bowl against Nebraska.
Davis comes to Louisville after one season at Missouri. Davis totaled 200 yards on 34 attempts (5.88 YPC) with a pair of touchdowns on the season. He made his collegiate debut in the season opener, rushing five times for 10 yards and the first touchdown of his collegiate career against Central Arkansas. The native of Cleveland, Ohio, recorded his first 100-yard game when he carried the ball 20 times for 113 yards and his second touchdown of the year in the win over Louisiana. He also rushed the ball nine times for 77 yards against UMass.
Coming out of Cleveland Heights High, Davis registered over 3,800 rushing yards and 58 touchdowns during his final two seasons. He was named the 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Ohio and Cleveland.com's Offensive Player of the Year, while also finishing as a Mr. Football Award finalist
The third player out of Kentucky, Waller spent two years at Kentucky after transferring after playing one season at Michigan. The 6-foot-3 cornerback was injured in the 2025 season opener against Toledo and played in just two games. He had two tackles and one pass breakup in the first two games. Waller saw action in seven games, making four starts in 2024. He totaled 13 tackles and two pass breakups, tying his career-high with four tackles versus Auburn.
As a freshman in 2023, Waller played in 11 games in the secondary and on special teams as a true freshman at Michigan. He helped the Wolverines amass a 15-0 record and win the College Football Playoff National Championship. He contributed 12 tackles with one pass breakup to earn a varsity letter at Michigan and was named the Defensive Freshman of the Week five times during the season.
The Cardinals have officially added 10 transfers to the 2026 recruiting class.
The Cardinals signed three defensive linemen in Tommy Ziesmer, and twin brothers Jacob and Jerod Smith. Brohm inked two offensive linemen in Johnnie Brown and Eryx Daugherty and running back in Marquise Davis and cornerback DJ Waller.
A transfer from Eastern Kentucky, Ziesmer played one season for the Colonels after spending his first two seasons at Kentucky. The former All-State prospect from Boyle County High played in 18 career games in college. One of the top 10 players statewide as a senior, Ziesmer had 83 total tackles, nine sacks, 20 tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles during his senior season. He helped Boyle County to the 2022 4-A state title.
As a true freshman at UK, Ziesmer played in two games and had one sack and one tackle for a loss against Akron. In 2024, he played in four games and, totaled two tackles for the Wildcats. Ziesmer transferred to EKU before this past season and played in all 12 games. He finished with 53 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery.
The Smith brothers transferred to Louisville after playing down the road at Kentucky. Jerod Smith became a major contributor for the Wildcats late in the season, finishing with 27 tackles and one sack. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound edge rusher played in 12 games this past season and totaled 18 solo tackles, five tackles for a loss, one sack, and one forced fumble. He also played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2024, finishing with seven tackles.
Jacob Smith recorded two tackles in two games in 2025 and played in seven career games with the Wildcats. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Smith was the No. 2-ranked player in the 247Sports Composite Rankings in the Class of 2024. Jacob was ranked as the No. 221 player nationally coming out of Corbin High.
Brown, a 6-foot-3, 315-pounder, spent three seasons at Georgia Southern, appearing in 26 games. A third-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2025, Brown started 13 games and was also a third-team All-Sun Belt choice by Phil Steele. In 2024, Brown played in all 13 games. He made the Dean's List in the fall for posting a GPA higher than 3.50. He was awarded the Tay McKibbins Memorial Walk-On Scholarship in April and was named to the 2024-25 Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.00-3.49 GPA. Brown signed with Miami in 2022 and spent a redshirt season in South Florida. He left and went to Georgia Southern following that season and didn't see action in a game the next season.
Daugherty, a transfer from Boston College, played three seasons for the Eagles before transitioning to Louisville. Daugherty, a 6-foot-3, 305-pounder, started 10 games in 2025 and didn't allow a sack. He earned a blocking grade of 67.8, and a pass block grade of 77.2. The native of Troy, Mich. appeared in three games as a redshirt freshman in 2024, including starting the Pinstripe Bowl against Nebraska.
Davis comes to Louisville after one season at Missouri. Davis totaled 200 yards on 34 attempts (5.88 YPC) with a pair of touchdowns on the season. He made his collegiate debut in the season opener, rushing five times for 10 yards and the first touchdown of his collegiate career against Central Arkansas. The native of Cleveland, Ohio, recorded his first 100-yard game when he carried the ball 20 times for 113 yards and his second touchdown of the year in the win over Louisiana. He also rushed the ball nine times for 77 yards against UMass.
Coming out of Cleveland Heights High, Davis registered over 3,800 rushing yards and 58 touchdowns during his final two seasons. He was named the 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Ohio and Cleveland.com's Offensive Player of the Year, while also finishing as a Mr. Football Award finalist
The third player out of Kentucky, Waller spent two years at Kentucky after transferring after playing one season at Michigan. The 6-foot-3 cornerback was injured in the 2025 season opener against Toledo and played in just two games. He had two tackles and one pass breakup in the first two games. Waller saw action in seven games, making four starts in 2024. He totaled 13 tackles and two pass breakups, tying his career-high with four tackles versus Auburn.
As a freshman in 2023, Waller played in 11 games in the secondary and on special teams as a true freshman at Michigan. He helped the Wolverines amass a 15-0 record and win the College Football Playoff National Championship. He contributed 12 tackles with one pass breakup to earn a varsity letter at Michigan and was named the Defensive Freshman of the Week five times during the season.
The Cardinals have officially added 10 transfers to the 2026 recruiting class.
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