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Louisville continues to do a lot of business in the transfer portal and the latest addition to the roster comes via Rutgers.
One-time Scarlet Knight defensive lineman Rene Konga hiommitted to the Cardinals. His decision comes 10 days after he went in the transfer portal.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Konga appeared in 21 games for the Scarlet Knights during his career. He played in 10 last year and recorded eight tackles and had a strip sack.
He signed with Rutgers in the 2020 class after playing at Ottawa (Can.) Colonel By Secondary School. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Konga was originally a class of 2021 prospect, but he reclassified into the 2020 class when he committed to the Scarlet Knights in the summer of 2020.
Here’s everything you need to know:
WHAT RENE KONGA SAYS ABOUT LOUISVILLE
“I just thought it was the best fit for me,” he said. “They seemed like they were about business and watching them last year showed just that since they managed to win a lot of games. They have great players on the DL and being able to part of that group would be great for my development.
“(Defensive line) coach (Mark) Hagen has coached numerous players that are in the NFL whether it was at Louisville or his previous schools and that with the combination of the scheme made it a very attractive situation.”
WHO ELSE WAS IN THE MIX?
Konga picked up offers quickly once he went into the transfer portal, including from Texas A&M. Cincinnati was also involved but at the end of the day, it turned into a battle between Louisville and Kentucky. The Wildcats pushed but Louisville won out and landed Konga.
WHERE RENE KONGA RANKS AS A RECRUIT
Konga is rated as the No. 82 defensive line prospect in the portal by 247Sports. He is the No. 815 prospect, but there is a bit more to it. When it came to the spring entrants into the transfer portal, there was not a ton of quality depth, particularly at the defensive line position. He was one of the top five uncommitted players at his position in the portal.
HOW RENE KONGA FITS WITH LOUISVILLE
Louisville’s roster remake is ongoing and the transfer portal is leading the way. The Cardinals seemingly live in the portal with more than two dozen transfers coming in, and Konga is not the only defensive lineman. Harvard’s Thor Griffith and Florida International’s Jordan Guerad are incoming transfer defensive linemen while edge rusher Myles Jernigan of Cal also is now with Louisville. Konga offers some versatility as someone who can play on the edge or move inside.
WHAT WE THINK ABOUT RENE KONGA
Konga brings on-field experience and his body type of something programs want in their prospects, according to 247Sports transfer portal analyst Clint Brewster.
“Konga can fill a role on the interior defensive line and play between the 3-5 shades for Louisville,” Brewster said. “He played 189 snaps in 2023 as a rotational piece for Rutgers. Everyone knows the premium on defensive lineman and he has some desirable qualities with his body type and ball-get-off. He’s got a sturdy frame but would like to see more functional strength.
“Plays reactive and shows some disruptiveness behind the line of scrimmage. If he continues to play more consistently and learn how to use his leverage and lower body strength to his advantage he could really excel.”
