Louisville football continues to round out its 2025 recruiting class with a recent focus on defense.
Eight of the Cardinals' 13 commits from the 2025 class are defensive players. Four-star defensive end CJ May became the latest defensive lineman to join U of L’s group on July 13. May is the Cardinals’ highest-rated player and first four-star commit of the 2025 recruiting cycle.
U of L took a hit after offensive lineman Jake Cook and wide receiver Lebron Hill decommitted. The Cardinals were ranked last in the ACC and 65th nationally prior to May’s commitment, according to 247Sports.
Louisville jumped into the national spotlight during coach Jeff Brohm's first season leading his alma mater and has been using the positive momentum on the recruiting trail this offseason. The Cardinals have been active in the NCAA transfer portal while also bringing in talent from the high school ranks. U of L's 2024 class, Brohm's first in a full recruiting cycle, ranks 39th nationally and seventh in the ACC, per 247Sports.
Here's an early look at his 2025 class:
CJ May, DL
High school: Highland Home (Alabama) High School
247Sports Composite rating: 4 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed July 13
What to know: The 6-foot-4, 225-pound edge rusher is ranked 16th in Alabama and 25th nationally at his position. He played a key part in the Flying Squadron’s defense with 54 tackles, 10 for loss, 7 ½ sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and fumble recovery, according to MaxPreps. May was previously committed to Notre Dame but reopened his recruitment Feb. 4. Louisville made his top four final schools along with Syracuse, Washington and Auburn.
Tyrone Burrus Jr., DL
High school: Warren Central (Indiana) High School
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed June 29
What to know: Ranked the eighth overall player in Indiana and No. 42 edge in the 2025 class, Burrus provided Warren Central with 36 tackles, 15 for loss, to go along with a team-best six sacks. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound defensive end also had a fumble recovery to cap off his junior season. He chose the Cardinals over Indiana, Kansas, Illinois and Michigan State.
Eric Hazzard, DL
High school: Fred J Page (Tennessee) High School
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed June 27
What to know: Hazzard is the No. 94 edge player in the 2025 recruiting class and ranked 37th in Tennessee. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive lineman also had Memphis and Arkansas State among his finalists. As a junior, he totaled 70 tackles, 23 for loss, and 12 1/2 sacks.
Josh Johnson, CB
High school: Ironton (Ohio) High School
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed June 14
What to know: The 6-foot-3, 185-pound defensive back led Ironton in interceptions (4), with two pick sixes, and was the team's second-leading tackler as a junior (64) to go along with seven tackles for loss. Johnson is ranked the 76th cornerback in this year's recruiting class and the No. 33 player in Ohio. Johnson, who took his official visit to Louisville two weeks ago, also had offers from Kentucky, Penn State, Iowa and Boston College, among others.
Micah Rice, S
High school: Archbishop Moeller High School (Cincinnati)
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed June 13
What to know: Rice provided Archbishop Moeller with 54 tackles, two for loss, six pass breakups, three interceptions and a fumble recovery. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Ohio native is ranked 25th in the state and 63rd among safeties in the 2025 class. In addition to Louisville, Minnesota and Arizona rounded out Rice's top three.
Antonio Harris, CB
High school: Male High School (Louisville)
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed June 9
What to know: The 6-foot, 170-pound Bulldog is the No. 10 overall player in Kentucky and ranked 102nd nationally as an athlete. Harris also had offers from Indiana, Western Kentucky, Buffalo and Kent State, among others. Harris made The Courier Journal's All-Louisville first team and All-State second team as a defensive back, Class 6A, District 4 team as a wide receiver and kick returner. As a junior, he totaled 620 yards and 11 touchdowns on 25 receptions, which ranked 25th in the state, with two interceptions. He averaged 5.5 points per game (35th best statewide) in 12 games played, according to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association's website.
Jaylin Brown, RB
High school: Cardinal Newman High School (West Palm Beach, Florida)
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed June 8
What to know: Brown is the first running back for Louisville's 2025 class. The 5-foot-11, 187-pound Floridian led his team with 81.3 yards per game, per MaxPreps, and ended his junior season with 894 yards and four touchdowns on 132 carries for an average of 6.8 yards per touch. Brown also had four catches for 28 yards and a score. He chose Louisville over N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Kentucky.
Caleb Matelau, LB
High school: Palmetto (Florida) High School
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed June 2
What to know: The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Floridian led Palmetto's defense with 96 tackles, six for loss, to go along with a sack. He enters his senior season this fall with 244 career tackles, 12 for loss. After taking an official visit the weekend of May 31, he chose Louisville over fellow ACC schools Pitt and Wake Forest as well as Georgia Southern, among others.
Grant Houser, TE
High school: Wapakoneta (Ohio) High School
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed May 2
What to know: According to MaxPreps, Houser had 55 yards on six catches for an average of 9.2 yards per reception in five games played for Wapakoneta as a junior. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end chose the Cardinals over Army, UConn and Cornell.
Jordan Allen, WR
High school: Buford High School (Buford, Georgia)
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed April 16
What to know: The 5-foot-8, 170-pound receiver had the second-most receiving yards for Buford with 588 yards and two touchdowns on 35 catches in 11 games played as a junior. He received an invitation to take his official visit to Louisville the weekend of May 31 and chose the Cardinals over programs including Clemson, Duke, Indiana and Colorado. Allen is ranked as the No. 77 player in Georgia, per 247Sports.
Dillon Smith, DL
High school: Ryle High School
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed April 5
What to know: As a junior, the 6-4, 250-pound edge player totaled 56 tackles, eight sacks and three interceptions, helping the Raiders to an 8-5 season. He's currently ranked as the 11th-best player in Kentucky, according to 247Sports.
Mason Mims, QB
High school: Oxford High School (Oxford, Alabama)
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed Nov. 24
What to know: The 6-foot-3, 220-pound signal caller is the 34th quarterback in the 2025 class and the No. 21 overall player in Alabama. As a junior, Mims completed 70.7% of his passes for 2,454 yards and 28 touchdowns to only three interceptions, helping Oxford to a 9-3 season. He picked up his offer from Louisville on Oct. 19.
Gradey Anthony, OL
High school: North Oldham (Goshen)
247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars
Commitment status: Verbally committed Jan. 26
What to know: Anthony, listed at 6-foot-5, 266 pounds, was an all-district selection as a sophom*ore. In his junior season, he blocked for a North Oldham offense that averaged 23.9 points and 287.9 yards per game and upset Jeffersontown in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
