Louisville has landed defensive lineman Kendrick Gilbert, a transfer from Kentucky, adding depth and potential to its defensive front. Gilbert, who once committed to Jeff Brohm when he was the head coach at Purdue, is now reuniting with him at Louisville. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound lineman visited the Cardinals last Wednesday and announced his commitment on social media shortly afterward. He has three years of college eligibility remaining.
Gilbert, a native of Indianapolis and a graduate of Cathedral High School, was a highly regarded recruit in the 2023 class. Rated as a four-star prospect, he was ranked among the top five players in I ndiana. Though he initially pledged to Purdue, he later flipped his commitment to Kentucky, signing with the Wildcats over other programs including Iowa and LSU.
During his freshman season at Kentucky in 2023, Gilbert saw limited action, appearing in two games against Ball State and Clemson. He recorded one tackle in each game and preserved his redshirt status by playing in just one regular season contest. His limited playtime was expected as he adjusted to the college level.
In 2024, Gilbert transitioned to the nose guard position despite being slightly undersized for the role at 275 pounds. He held the No. 2 spot on Kentucky’s depth chart at that position and appeared in eight games. Over the season, he tallied six tackles and one tackle for loss, gaining valuable experience in SEC competition.
Statistically, Gilbert finished the 2024 season with modest numbers. He earned a 56.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus over 53 defensive snaps. His best individual metric was a 74.5 tackling grade, while his run defense and pass rush grades were 55.7 and 58.3, respectively. Now at Louisville, Gilbert will look to take on a bigger role under Brohm’s leadership.
