Louisville linebacker re-enters transfer portal as grad transfer

Louisville linebacker K.J. Cloyd has entered his name back into the transfer portal as a graduate transfer, he announced Thursday on social media.

“I want to thank Coach (Jeff) Brohm and the entire Louisville staff for the opportunity to play at the University of Louisville,” he wrote in a post on Twitter. “I will forever cherish the time spent here with my teammates and loving fans but I have decided to enter the portal as a graduate transfer. I am now open to being recruited.”

Cloyd entered the portal back on Dec. 1 shortly after the Cardinals’ regular season came to a close. But following the hire of Jeff Brohm to be the program’s next head coach, Cloyd withdrew his name from the portal and gave Brohm a chance. He went through spring ball with the program and appeared to be in line to play a role this upcoming season.

Instead, he’ll search for a new home.

(Because Cloyd is a graduate transfer, he is not bound by the transfer windows instituted by the NCAA.)

The 6-foot-2, 229-pound linebacker made appearances in 12 games last season. Most of that work came on special teams, though. He finished with 15 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Lloyd played in 13 games (1 start) in 2021 and 11 games during the 2020 campaign. He departs with 40 career tackles, 2 pass breakups, and half a tackle for loss.