Next up, we take a look at Louisville’s receiver group heading into 2026.
2025 Rewind
Louisville’s dynamic duo at wide receiver (Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy) had very solid years in 2025. Bell led the team with 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games played, and earned All-ACC First Team honors. Bell became the fourth Louisville wide receiver to earn All-ACC first team honors since 2014 (Jaylen Smith in 2017; Tutu Atwell in 2019; Ja’Corey Brooks in 2024). His season included a tremendous stretch of football where he had 31 receptions for 441 yards and five touchdowns across three games (Pittsburgh, Virginia, and #2 Miami).
Caullin Lacy had a quietly productive year, with 60 receptions for 635 yards and two receiving touchdowns last year. Lacy also had two punt return touchdowns and even had a passing touchdown against Clemson; Lacy ended his Louisville career having scored a touchdown five different ways (passing, rushing, receiving, kick return, and punt return). Lacy would end up earning an Honorable Mention All-ACC nomination.
As for tight ends, Jaleel Skinner and Nate Kurisky had a near 50/50 split on productivity. Skinner had 21 receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns, with Kurisky logging 20 receptions for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
Read more: 2026 Louisville Football Guide: Receivers (WR / TE)Notable Departures
- WR Chris Bell (graduated; drafted in the third to the Miami Dolphins)
- WR Caullin Lacy (graduated; signed an UDFA deal with the New York Jets)
- WR Dacari Collins (graduated)
- WR Antonio Meeks (transferred to Wake Forest)
- TE Nate Kurisky (transferred to Duke)
2026 Preview: Wide Receivers
Louisville is entering another season where they have to replace a ton of production at the wide receiver spot. The Cardinals are losing their top three wideouts from last season, including Bell, Lacy, and senior Dacari Collins (13 rec., 219 yards, TD). Antonio Meeks (17 rec., 189 yards, TD) also transferred to Wake Forest, and the Cardinals suffered a blow to their depth when Kris Hughes and Montavin Quisenberry suffered season-ending injuries in the offseason.
Under head coach Jeff Brohm and wide receiver coach Deion Branch though, Louisville has been able to reload at the position with playmakers. That should be no different this season with the additions of Tre Richardson and Lawayne McCoy from Vanderbilt and Florida State, respectively. Both guys will be week one starters and impact players in the offense.
Richardson led Vanderbilt last season in receiving yards (806) and receiving touchdowns (seven), and had 17.5 yards per catch in a Commodores offense that was loaded with playmakers. He is a true speedster that can stretch the field vertically and make plays in the open field. Brohm has been vocal in the offseason about needing to get the ball in his hands often, and I think you’ll see the team use him in a variety of ways similar to how Caullin Lacy was utilized last season; using jet sweeps, screens, motion to get him in space. He also has the ability to line up in the slot and outside to exploit mismatches. He’s also going to be utilized in the return game (also similar to Lacy), and assuming that things go as planned in Brohm’s offense, Louisville should have another 1,000-yard receiver in Richardson.
Lawayne McCoy had 396 receiving yards and three touchdowns last year at Florida State, but ended on a high note with six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown in the regular season finale against Florida. McCoy has a lot of great tools that could make him a future star at receiver, maybe as early as this year. McCoy has good ball skills and a versatile route tree that will make him an easy target in the passing game.
Louisville does get TreyShun Hurry (15 rec., 122 yards, TD) back and he should be a more prominent contributor this season. Hurry is a big target at 6’2″ and had solid performances to close last season. Jackson Voth is another transfer that should see reps in the slot this season, and could also see action on special teams. Terrence McWilliams and Elizjah Lewis could see expanded roles in the offense as outside wide receivers behind McCoy and Hurry.
Projected Starters: Tre Richardson, Lawayne McCoy, TreyShun Hurry
Key Reserves: Jackson Voth, Terrence McWilliams, Elizjah Lewis
2026 Preview: Tight Ends
Entering his fourth year at Louisville, Jeff Brohm could be due for a big year from his tight end group. The Cardinals do get Jaleel Skinner (21 rec., 204 yards, two TDs) back, and his return should help Louisville’s passing game. Skinner is more of a receiving tight end, and he does have the athleticism to line up outside and create mismatches.
Where Louisville could really take the next step, though, is with their additions at the position. Brody Foley comes to Louisville after a solid 2025 season at Tulsa, leading the team in receiving yards (528) and touchdowns (seven), and earned All-American Conference First Team honors. He’s a big target at 6’6″, 260 lbs., and moves with a lot of fluidity for a player of his size. Foley has the ability to get 10-15 yards at a time and create separation against linebackers and safeties, giving new quarterback Lincoln Kienholz a reliable target in the short and intermediate passing game. Tulsa also used him as a wildcat quarterback last year, and while I don’t think you will see that often this year with Louisville having a more mobile quarterback in Kienholz, it is an option that Brohm could exercise in goal-line / short-yardage situations.
Louisville also added Justyn Reid from Tulane to the roster; he had 17 receptions for 200 yards and three touchdowns last year with the Green Wave. Reid is a solid blocker with underrated pass catching skills, and with Foley and Reid, Louisville should be able to utilize more 12 and even 13 personnel (one back / two & three tight ends, respectively) for their run game. With how dynamic and talented Louisville’s running back group is, this could end up being a tremendous asset towards Louisville having a strong season.
Freshman Julius Miles is one guy that could be a future starter for Louisville in the coming years. He’s another huge target at 6’6″ and has the athleticism to play in-line tight end or outside at X or Z receiver. Jeff Brohm can likely utilize him in ways similar to Skinner, and if he can develop into a quality blocking tight end, Louisville could have a special talent at the position.
Projected Starter: Brody Foley
Key Reserves: Justyn Reid, Jaleel Skinner, Julius Miles
