LOUISVILLE, KY: The football team at Louisville has been able to flip another already-committed transfer thanks to their successful transfer portal recruitment campaign.

Defensive back Tamarion McDonald, who played his first four years of college ball at Tennessee, said on Monday that he had committed to the Cardinals. Prior to switching, he had verbally committed to Ole Miss last month after changing his mind.

After they were successful in luring FIU defensive lineman transfer Jordan Guerad from Minnesota, McDonald is the second transfer to renounce their pledge to Louisville this cycle. In addition, he is the Cardinals’ seventh commitment in the last four days and their second portal commitment of the day after fellow former Volunteer Wesley Welker.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defensive back, who plays nickelback in Tennessee’s scheme, has started at the STAR position for several seasons and is coming off of his greatest year as a college player. Similar to his old colleague Walker, McDonald started the first 10 games of the 2023 regular season before missing the final two due to injury. McDonald finished with 40 tackles, 23 of which were solo, 3.5 for loss, a sack, an interception, and four pass breakups.

In 2022, the native of Memphis, Tennessee, had another fantastic junior season. He started all 13 games, recorded 55 tackles (38 solo), 4.0 for loss, two interceptions, and six pass breakups. During his tenure in Knoxville, McDonald recorded 95 tackles, 8.5 for loss, a sack, four interceptions, and 12 pass breakups. He was also a vital reserve for the Vols during his rookie and sophomore seasons.

Even though Louisville’s safety position is loaded for the upcoming season, their STAR position should still be a key component of their defence in 2024. Benjamin Perry, the defense’s X-Factor, and Antonio Watts, who made several plays every time he saw the field, are both returned by the Cardinals.

In this cycle, Louisville has committed 24 transfers while also having 18 scholarship players join the portal during the winter transfer window.

The Cardinals concluded their first season under head coach Jeff Brohm with a three-game losing skid, but they completed 2023 with an overall record of 10-4 (7-1 in ACC), including a trip to the program’s first-ever ACC Championship Game.