Louisville Football Recruiting: Cardinals Add Class of 2016 Offensive Lineman Linwood Foy

Louisville had been seeking to add an additional offensive lineman to the recruiting class of 2016 and today finally found its man. College of the Canyons offensive tackle Linwood Foy (6'5, 295), a late developing prospect who has seen interest in him pick up from colleges around the country exponentially this spring, visited the Cardinals and committed today after the team's 161-play scrimmage. Foy will join the team in the summer and have two years to play two. He projects at tackle and will provide depth to Geron Christian and Lukayus McNeil who look to have the starting roles at tackle locked down.

Lightly recruited out of high school, Foy went the junior college route to develop and garner attention. After a year of playing defensive end at 6'4, 230 lbs, his coach convinced him to grow into an offensive tackle and so he did the past two years. Now at 6'5, 295, Foy has completed his junior college work. After only seeing light interest from major programs, Louisville's chief scout Dave Boller convinced the staff they should give Foy a look. Shortly after Louisville reached out to Foy, he reported receiving offers to visit from Missouri, Baylor, Texas Tech, and other power conference schools.

For those who are perhaps put off by an unheralded recruit joining the program at a position of need like offensive line, I would point out a couple of things. First, it's no secret to Louisville fans that Petrino has verifiable history of identifying under the radar offensive linemen and having them become stars. Breno Giacomini was a tight end, Eric Wood was a two-star offensive line prospect, etc. There's no reason to think that eye for offensive line talent has gone anywhere. Second, this kind of scouting if the lifeblood of the non-blue blood football programs. These kinds of kids are out there and it's what they pay Dave Boller, a man with a lifetime of NFL scouting experience, to find. Third, Foy will not be thrust into the starting lineup. With McNeil and Christian being solidified starters at the two tackle spots, Foy can come in and provide meaningful depth and maturity to what is still a very young group and not be in over his head.