The 2021 Louisville football recruiting class is setting up to possibly be the best in school history; Scott Satterfield and company have brought a plethora of players that will have an impact at the next level. All of their respective skill sets should be recognized, so recruiting analysts Dalton Pence and CardsHive compared each commit with a former college and/or Cardinal standout. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.
Trevion Cooley
Hive: I see a lot of Michael Bush in Cooley’s game. He’s not quite as big as Bush was but he can convert speed to power and vice-versa in an instant just like Bush could. Be ready for a lot of nasty stiff arms and TDs in Cooley’s future.
DP: Ezekiel Elliott. Cooley’s strength and speed is similar to that of Zeke’s at Ohio State. Both are quality downhill backs that contain the ability to make guys miss.
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Benjamin Perry
Hive: Isaiah Simmons is about the only comp I can think of for Perry. His versatility is just so rare. I can see him dominating at multiple positions for the Cards and I think he will eventually be our defense’s X Factor in the same way Simmons was for Clemson.
DP: Isaiah Simmons. Perry is a flat-out playmaker in all three levels of the field; he can bust through the backfield, spy on the quarterback, and cover receivers in coverage. Versatility is the name of the game, and Perry will play multiple positions for Louisville.
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Jaraye Williams
Hive: My comp for JWill would be Isaiah Simmons too but to switch it up some I think he will eventually grow into a Darius Leonard type of player for our defense. He has the tools to be great off the edge but also has the athleticism to pick off a few passes and contain even the fastest of RBs.
DP: Troy Dye. Williams possesses the elite speed that the former Oregon standout flaunted. His ability to rush the quarterback, tackle in the open field, and drop back into coverage will see him playing multiple positions at Louisville.
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Victoine Brown
Hive: Lorenzo Mauldin is the name that comes to mind when I think about what Victoine could be for Louisville and this defense. He has obvious leadership ability to match with his knack for getting in the backfield and wreaking havoc on opposing offenses.
DP: I’m also going with Lorenzo Mauldin. Their leadership qualities on and off the field are very similar; Brown is able to put his hand in the dirt and get after the quarterback. Like the former Cardinal standout, his strength and underrated speed will bode for a very successful collegiate career.
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Bralyn Oliver
Hive: Oliver reminds me a lot of Gerod Holliman except for the fact that I really like Oliver’s ability to tackle which was a big weakness in Holliman’s game. He will be a ballhawking FS for this defense for multiple years. He might not break any INT records but don’t count on him missing too many tackles either.
DP: Minkah Fitzpatrick. Oliver is capable of playing either cornerback or safety, like Fitzpatrick. He has good technique and footwork, coupled with hard-hitting and active eyes on the quarterback.
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Ahmari Huggins-Bruce
Hive: Huggins-Bruce gives me MAJOR Stefon Diggs vibes. Not only is he a great entertainer on the football field but his route running and footwork are absolutely superb. He should get a lot of playing time immediately.
DP: Louisville fans won’t necessarily enjoy this one, or will they? I’m going with TY Hilton; Huggins-Bruce is a 5-foot-10 receiver with extreme explosiveness and route running. I could see him playing immediately due to being a homerun threat and his ability to make defenders miss.
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Demetrius Cannon
Hive: Cannon reminds me a whole lot of the 502 legend, Devante Parker. Neither player beats you with their vertical speed but instead they beat you with their underrated footwork, extremely strong hands, and the ability to sky over the DB covering them. He should be a fan favorite for sure.
DP: Like Hive, Cannon immediately reminded me of Devante Parker as a tall receiver with great hands and verticality. I also see AJ Green in aspects of his game; Cannon may see a Seth Dawkins role right away in Satterfield’s system.
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Michael Gonzalez
Hive: Watching Gonalez’s tape reminds me of Jamon Brown. He will be able to dominate at either OT or OG and I expect him to get playing time on our OL relatively quickly. He also has sneaky athleticism just like Brown did so watch out once he gets to the second level of that defense!
DP: Adrian Magee; if anyone isn’t familiar with how explosive Magee was for the national championship LSU Tigers. Both he and Gonzalez have exceptional strength and an elite point of attack. The latter will have some pancake blocks of his own, while being able to finish blocks past the line of scrimmage.
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Zen Michalski
Hive: Big Zen is an Ezra Cleveland clone. Please don’t hold your breath looking for an OT as gifted athletically as Zen or one that works as hard. He runs a laser timed 4.8 and he’s gradually building on the bulk to back up his supreme athleticism.
DP: Tristan Wirfs; Zen hasn’t been an offensive lineman for that long, but he has put on a ton of muscle and grown a few inches. The speed, passion, and shear strength that he plays with is absolutely incredible. I personally think he’ll be a day one or two draft pick in the NFL.
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Aaron Gunn
Hive: Gunn is a player whose athleticism and ability to move fluidly for his size is often overlooked because of his huge frame. He reminds me a lot of David DeCastro from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has violent and powerful hands to go with the balance and fluidity of a dancer.
DP: Quenton Nelson. Comparing Gunn to arguably the best offensive guard in the NFL may seem a little rich, but hear me out. Both have solid footwork, powerful points of attack, and speed for their size. Not to mention, their athleticism and quickness allows them to block edge rushers and outside linebackers as well.
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Vic Mullen
Hive: Mullen is your classic tight end who has no problem whatsoever getting his nose in there and getting physical with big defensive ends in the run game. I think he compares well to a player like Jack Doyle who also was coached by Stu Holt. Both are huge TEs who play great in the run game but quickly can become a threat in the end zone due to their length and good hands.
DP: Coby Fleener. Mullen is a good zied, high-energy tight end that specializes in effective blocking, like Fleener did at Stanford. He also has underrated speed and quickness, which will be a challenge for opposing linebackers to guard.
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Kani Walker
Hive: Kani Walker has Jaire Alexander’s personality in Anthony Johnson’s frame so I’m going to cheat and compare him to both since I believe confidence is a huge part of being a great DB and Kani has no shortage of flair and confidence at all. His play style favors more of AJ because of his ability to get physical at the line of scrimmage and shadow the WR down the field without drawing a penalty.
DP: Greedy Williams. Like the former LSU standout, Walker is a big defensive back that plays extremely physical in coverage. Both have unwavering confidence, solid footwork, and a knack for breaking up and intercepting passes.
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Jackson Hamilton
Hive: When I watch Hamilton’s tape it constantly reminds me of the ever-so-underrated James Burgess. Both are ILBs with the speed and coverage ability to even play safety at times but their ultimate strength is in their ability to track the football and simply make plays on defense. I am extremely excited about Hamilton that’s for sure.
DP: Devin Bush. Hamilton’s versatility and hard-hitting physicality reminds me of the former Michigan star that is known for his athleticism and speed. Hamilton will be able to play as a hybrid for the Cardinals, whether it being dropping back into coverage, spying on the quarterback, or disrupting plays in the backfield.
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Rance Conner
Hive: Rance Conner reminds me of former UL CB Shaq Wiggins. He is smaller in stature but he makes up for it with his quickness and football IQ. I see him as someone who could definitely lead the team in pass breakups one day.
DP: Nickell Robey-Coleman. Conner projects as a nickel cornerback at the next level due to his smaller size. However, that doesn’t stop him from making plays. His vertical athleticism, quickness, and ability to read plays before they happen will have him picking off multiple passes for Louisville over the span of his career.
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Derrick Edwards
Hive: Terrell Floyd is a name I had all but forgotten before doing research for this feature and boy am I glad I came across him again. I think that is the type of player we will get out of Derrick Edwards. A hard nosed, versatile, and athletic CB who’s a big play waiting to happen.
DP: Trevon Diggs. The comparison may be a bit rich, but the two have similar qualities. Edwards is a big, physical cornerback that possesses the ability to disrupt jump balls and read quarterbacks effectively.
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RJ Sorensen
Hive: Sorensen’s comparison was a little harder for me to come up with because ultimately I think he ends up as a DT in our system but as far as the type of player I can see him being for us down the road is recent 2020 Draft Pick out of Baylor James Lynch. Both are 3-4 DE/DT hybrids who are all gas and no breaks when it comes to their approach. Neither are very athletically gifted but both leave an undeniable mark on the field by the way they get after it until the whistle blows.
DP: Pernell McPhee. Sorensen’s game is very much similar to that of the former Mississippi State standout. Neither possess gifted athleticism or speed, but they both have a high motor to go along with a ton of strength. However, I do believe Sorensen could become an interior defensive lineman if he adds more weight and muscle.
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TJ Quinn
Hive: TJ Quinn reminds me a lot of Calvin Pryor in the way that he gets after it against the run. He’s also pretty solid in coverage and I think he has the potential to be one of the hardest hitting players on the team like Pryor once was.
DP: James Sample. One thing the former Louisville phenom did very well was deliver hard, violent hits. Quinn shows the making of following in those footsteps; both are extremely smart players that spy on the quarterback effectively and tackle well in the open field.
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Ashton Gillotte
Hive: Ashton reminds me a lot of Marcus Smith in the way he’s able to violently get to the QB. He hasn’t even filled out his long frame yet and he already bullies the OTs he plays against every Friday. I can’t wait to see how he looks once he gets up to 250+.
DP: Cardinal fans know how valuable Deiontrez Mount was for the program; Gillotte projects as the same type of edge rusher: high-motor, quick, and plays with speed. Both are also high-character people on and off the field.
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Ryheem Craig
Hive: My comp for Craig would have to be James Hearns. Both are DE/OLB hybrids who are all motor and know how to get to the QB. Hearns topped out at 8 sacks in one season and I think that’s what Craig could potentially be for us one day if he’s able to add more weight to his wiry frame. If Ivey can build off that extremely fast first step he has, we could have a diamond in the rough on our hands.
DP: Like Hive, I’m going with James Hearns. Craig will need to add a substantial amount of muscle, but he plays with an extreme motor and speed. There’s definitely a chance that Craig will be able to get after opposing quarterbacks frequently at some point in his collegiate career.
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