The University of Louisville football team has received another commitment through the transfer portal.
Brandon Lane, a Stephen F. Austin defensive lineman who paid an unofficial visit to the University of Louisville this weekend, has committed to the Cardinals.
Lane is the 28th prospect from the transfer portal to make the roster for fall camp, including seven on the defensive line or edge. Lane, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 300 pounds, had also considered Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as North Carolina State and others.
Lane was one of the most popular players on the transfer platform, attracting interest from over 30 other institutions.
He had committed to Michigan State in late April, then reopened the process and revealed that the University of Louisville was one of his final four choices.
As a sophomore at Stephen F. Austin, the 6-foot-3, 300-pounder recorded 44 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, and 1.5 sacks. He has received interest from approximately 30 institutions since entering.
Lane was originally a part of South Dakota State’s 2020 class. He played little with the Jackrabbits before transferring to Stephen F. Austin prior of the 2022 season.
In-demand DT transfer Brandon Lane commits to Louisville
One of the top remaining transfers from the spring window is coming to the ACC. Brandon Lane, a defensive tackle for Stephen F. Austin, told 247Sports on Monday that he will transfer to Louisville. Lane believed the Cardinals were a good fit for his final two seasons of eligibility.
He chose Louisville over Wisconsin and Michigan, the other two finalists. “Definitely was a great fit for me at Louisville just with the opportunity I have coming in and being able to show what I have at a higher level,” Lane stated to 247Sports.
Lane, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 300 pounds, is the No. 2 available defensive tackle according to 247Sports transfer rankings. He became a starter as a redshirt sophomore last season, recording 44 tackles (6 1/2 for loss) and 1 1/2 sacks in a career-best season.
Lane is a big, effective run defender who earned a 79.9 PFF run defense grade last season. He also had the ability to provide an inside push as a pass rusher, recording 11 pressures in 405 snaps. Lane said he enjoys his role in Louisville’s defensive strategy and intends to have a similar impact.
“I know I (will) fit in perfect with the scheme,” Lane stated. “My coach and I discussed being able to get off the rock and be explosive with my strong motor and effort level. (It) is perfectly aligned with their goals this year. Get off the rock, get off blocks, make plays, and position myself for the NFL.”
Lane proven to be one of the more popular under-the-radar players on the transfer platform. He sparked great interest in the Power Four conferences and was once committed to Michigan State. Lane reopened his process less than a week later, opting to pursue other possibilities outside of the Spartan program.
“(The) process has had ups and downs, but I feel like God sent me and had the right direction for me, so I’m just blessed,” Lane stated. Lane started at South Dakota State and played for the Jackrabbits for two years before transferring to Stephen F. Austin. He featured infrequently in his first three seasons but emerged as a difference maker in 2023.
Sources across the FBS identified Lane as a possible difference maker in the spring transfer cycle, with one ACC Personnel Director telling 247Sports: “Brandon is damn mobile for a dude who is thick all over his body.
He will begin from one hash and end the game outside the opposite numbers. “Excellent range and movement for a guy his size.” Louisville continues to invest extensively on the transfer portal. The Cardinals are ranked 12th nationally in the 2024 transfer portal rankings, and they have already added 32 transfers this cycle.