DEFENSIVE LINE

Wesley Bailey | Rutgers

Transfer Grade: 85
HS Grade: 85

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Bailey only played in four games this season, then took a redshirt. He has one season of eligibility left. He announced for Louisville on Dec. 14.

In 2023, Bailey had 27 total tackles with four sacks and 4.5 tackles for a loss. ScarletNation.com said coming into this season, the expectation was that Bailey could have an All-Big Ten caliber campaign. But the site said he now enters the portal “as a player who projects to be in demand.”

A former standout at Clearwater, Fla., Academy Internation, Bailey came to Rutgers as part of the 2020 recruiting class.  Bailey was a three-star recruit who had offers from Illinois, Minnesota, and West Virginia among others.

Bailey finishes his time at Rutgers with 64 total tackles and 9.5 sacks.

Demon Clowney | Charlotte
Transfer Grade: 86
HS Grade: 90

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound announced his transfer to Louisville on Christmas Eve.

This season, Clowney finished with 26 tackles and two sacks for Charlotte.

Clowney was a four-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting cycle out of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Md. He signed with Ole Miss and spent three seasons with the Rebels before transferring to Charlotte in 2023.

In his first year with the 49ers, Clowney had 33 tackles, including 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. He finished his time at Charlotte with 59 tackles, 4.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

Jerry Lawson | Abiline Christian

Transfer Grade: 88
HS Grade: —

Lawson, a product of Breckinridge, Tex., High School, announced for Louisville on Dec. 17.

The 6-foot-2, 295-pound Lawson spent two seasons at Abilene Christian. He’s coming off a sophomore season that saw him record 65 tackles, including 14 for a loss and 5.5 sacks. As a freshman, he appeared in 12 games, with seven starts, and totaled 41 tackles, 5.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks.

Lawson was also hearing from schools like Oregon, Oregon State, North Texas, Tulane and Texas State.

A three year letter winner at Breckenridge High School, Lawson starred on both sides of the ball.  During his career at running back, he totaled 1,637 yards rushing and 29 total touchdowns, while on defense, recording 147 tackles and 10 sacks.

Denzel Lowry | Old Dominion

Transfer Grade: 85
HS Grade: —

Lowry announced his transfer to UofL on Dec. 28.

The 6-foot-1, 280-pound Lowry played in 38 games over four years at Old Dominion. He was selected as an all-conference performer for the past two seasons.

He is a native of Virginia Beach, Va., and earned second-team All-State honors as a junior and senior at Landstown High School.

He took a redshirt in 2021 but appeared in the Myrtle Beach Bowl against Tulsa at the end of the season and registered four tackles.

In 2022, Lowry played in all 12 games and registered 35 tackles, five tackles for loss, and tied for the team lead with four sacks. He was then named All-Siun Belt Confernece honorable mention in 2023 after starting all 12 games and leading the Old Dominion defensive line with 46 tackles. He also had five tackles for a loss and three sacks.

Lowry repeated the All-Sun Belt honors this season. He led the Old Dominion defensive linemen again with 51 tackles, three tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks.

Clev Lubin | Coastal Carolina

Transfer Grade: 87
HS Grade: —

Lubin announced his transfer to Louisville on Dec. 21.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Lubin amassed 44 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks this season as a sophomore at Coastal Carolina. He amassed 43 quarterback pressures in 207 total pass-rush opportunities, according to Pro Football Focus. He had 27 quarterback hurries.

After starting his career at Army, Lubin went to Iowa Western Community College for one season. He helped Iowa Western to the NJCAA D1 Football National Championship and was named a first-team NJCAA All-American. He had 55 tackles, including 31 solo stops, 23.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

In his one season at Coastal Carolina, Lubin put up impressive numbers. He led the Chanticleers in both tackles for a loss and sacks.