I’ve reached some University of Louisville football commitments in the hours after multiple reports have been published that Bobby Petrino will be hired as the Cardinals’ head coach.
Here’s a rundown of what some of them have said (and this will be fleshed out more on the blog, the main Courier-Journal.com site and of course in the newspaper).
**George Rushing, 3-star WR, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., decommitted from U of L almost immediately after news broke that Petrino was set to be hired. He was unsure if he’ll still visit U of L. He’d been planning to go on Jan. 31. He now plans to visit Wisconsin (Jan. 17), LSU (Jan. 24) and TCU (Jan. 29, a midweek trip).
**Reggie Bonnafon (pictured) , 4-star QB, Trinity High, remains solidly committed and said he was relieved to hear the news Petrino will be the likely coach and knows he’s had success with quarterbacks and has close ties to the Trinity program and coach Bob Beatty. Bonnafon looks forward to meeting with Petrino and said the only way he would likely ever decommit is if Petrino doesn’t foresee him as a quarterback. Bonnafon also thinks Petrino is a “changed man” personally and wouldn’t doubt if he now considers Louisville his final destination.
**Nilijah Ballew, 4-star safety, Cincinnati, is still committed and plans to sign with U of is unsure of his thoughts on Petrino. “I’ve heard that he’s successful here before; that’s great. But he has some dark shadows that worry me. But he’s got a second chance at a big-time program, so I’m hoping great things will come.” Ballew planned to talk with his parents when he gets home today.
**DeSean Blair, 4-star WR, Jacksonville, Fla., said he remains committed and has heard good things about Petrino and his offensive scheme but wants to meet the man on a campus visit. Blair also will visit Nebraska, which offered this week.
**The father of Ross Trail, 4-star 2015, Olive Branch, Miss., said his son is still committed, and he was pleased by the reports that Petrino will be hired. Rusty Trail and his son moved from Wynn, Ark., last year, and before then, Rusty Trail said he’d had Arkansas season football tickets and watched the success Petrino had there. Rusty said Petrino has demonstrated success coaching quarterbacks, like Tyler Wilson and Brian Brohm, and thinks he deserves a second chance for his personal transgressions.
**Danny Burns, 3-star OL, Fairfield, Ohio, said he is still committed but wants to learn more about Petrino and hopes to meet with him on a Jan. 24 visit.
***Justin Crawford, 3-star 2015 RB, Columbus, Ga., said he doesn’t know much about Petrino but remains committed to U of L. He is hopeful running backs coach Kenny Carter is kept on the staff.
**B.J. Payne, the coach of Poona Ford, 4-star DT from Hilton Head Island, S.C., said Petrino “obviously has been a very successful coach” but that “Poona knows very little about him.”
***Henry Famurewa, 3-star LB, Powder Springs, Ga., said he doesn’t know much about Petrino but remembers watching the Cardinals defeat Miami 31-7 in 2006, “and man, I loved it!!” he wrote in a text message. “As long as he likes me and plans to use me like Coach Strong and staff, I can’t wait!!” #CardNation”
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