LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Few coaches have had the kind of transfer portal success that Jeff Brohm has experienced in his two years at Louisville. He hit the portal hard for 24 players who were instrumental in the program's run to the ACC Championship game last season.

That portal class ranked No. 2 in the rankings from On3.com. This year, he will bring in a 24-player portal class that ranks No. 1 by On.3 and Rivals, fifth by Sports Illustrated and sixth by 247.com.

The portal has helped a school like Louisville, which isn't going to be able to build the kind of high school classes landed by traditional powers, but which can, via a strong Name, Image and Likeness operation headed by the 502Circle collective, become an attractive place for players looking to move up or make a change.

Brohm's portal class includes eight four-star signings, led by Tennessee defensive end Tyler Baron, Illinois cornerback Tahveon Nicholson, South Alabama wideout Caullin Lacy, Harvard defensive lineman Thor Griffith, Toledo running back Peny Boone and San Diego State tight end Mark Redman. Brohm also added a quarterback from Texas Tech, Tyler Shough.

But it's not just about rankings. Brohm talked about his portal approach on Wednesday's spring signing day, a day which saw no activity in the traditional high school window but which, at Louisville, was cause for excitement nonetheless given the program's portal success.

IDENTIFYING PROSPECTS

Just figuring out who might be available in the portal is the initial challenge.

"There's so many elements involved in each player in his situation, that they have people reaching out to places for them," Brohm said. "And with all that going on, you sometimes have a little bit of an idea that something may happen or may not happen. And you always keep your ears open and listen. I think you can learn a lot by listening. So, I just think that, man, there's so many layers to this, you do the best you can to always be within the rules, but at the same time be aware of your surroundings and make sure that you know, when that portal period opens, you're very aggressive and you're exploring all options. Because you're not only trying to piece this together to help your football team win, but find good people that you think are going to want to work hard and prove themselves."

Brohm had success last season bringing players from well-known FBS programs looking for one last chance for a big season (like Isaac Guerendo from Wisconsin) and added players from lesser-known programs who were among the best on the team (like Jamari Thrash, a Georgia State wideout).

There's no real template. But there is one overarching requirement – Brohm wants players with a "purpose," those who are highly motivated, either by the calendar, or a chance at playing time or a position they did not have at their prior stop.

PURSUING "PURPOSE"

"I think with us, when we get guys that just have one especially but even two years left, you know, I think they want to come here with a purpose and they want to prove themselves," Brohm said. "And we've had pretty good success in my last so many years as a head coach getting guys with just one year left that want to come and make a difference."

The hunger and purpose is evident from players looking to take a step up in level to the ACC. But for those moving laterally or from bigger name programs, for as much attention as those transfers get, a bit of digging is involved.

"We have had a lot of success taking young men from a Group of 5 or FCS programs that want to prove themselves, and that did a good job where they were," Brohm said. "And I think we've got a few of those pieces our team right now. And I think they're going do a great job just based on what I've seen on this first month. At the same time, we probably got a lot of young men from really good programs this year that after research and investigating why they wanted to switch and what they're looking for and what value we think they can add, we feel good about them to this point, as well."

Style of play. Brohm has a certain skill set he's looking for position by position, and those have to be front of mind. A highly rated recruit who doesn't match those might not be one he pursues.

BROHM TALKS NEWCOMERS

But in Shough, Brohm thinks he has found a quarterback who can thrive in his system.

"I think you can add value by gaining experience, especially at the quarterback position, which we feel like we did with Tyler, bringing him in for a seventh year," Brohm said. "He's coming here with a true purpose to prove himself, to prove that he can stay healthy, to prove that he can play an entire year and help this football team win. And he wants to play at the next level. So we like all the dynamics that go behind that. Now, does he need to prove that he can stay healthy? Sure he does. Is he fully healthy now? No, he's actually not. You know, he's continuing to get back fully healthy. But we have time. We like what we've seen to this point. At the same time, we want to develop the other quarterbacks on our roster, which we feel good about. But it doesn't happen overnight. And we used the bowl prep to kind of get a glimpse of where we thought they were. And they have made progress, but we want to see more. So I think with Pierce (Clarkson), and Brady (Allen) and even Harrison Bailey, those are three guys that we want to continue to progress as fast as we can. Having depth at every position important, and definitely at quarterback."

For a player like Baron, who flipped from Ole Miss, the selling point was a chance to be solely an edge rusher.

"We love the addition of Tyler," Brohm said. "Anytime you can get a big, talk athletic rusher that has played a lot of football, man, that's a big piece. And he wanted to go somewhere and try to play that position solely, if he can. I think he's been moved around a little bit, so he comes wanting to prove that he can be a great edge rusher and we want to help him do that. So we were excited to get him here."

Baron was one of three players Louisville took from Tennessee, along with starting safety Wesley Walker (who spent two seasons at Georgia Tech) and safety Tamarion McDonald, another flip from Ole Miss.

"They bring a ton of experience in the secondary," Brohm said. "They've played a lot of football. They can run, hit, strike. They understand football."

Brohm arrived to Louisville to a depleted tight end room and has restocked that shelf in the portal, taking four of those via transfer, including former Kentucky tight end Izayah Cummings, a Louisville native, and San Diego State standout Mark Redman.

"We are excited about adding Izayah," Brohm said. "I think that, once again, he's coming here with a purpose and wants to prove his worth and prove that he can catch footballs against a great competition and hopefully be able to play beyond. Tight end is a position where we wanted to add depth and we wanted to add some playmakers. He gives us a receiving skill to that position that we would like to have. Is he going to be an inline blocker all the time? Probably not. I think he's a guy that can do multiple things that you can split them out, and you can flex him out and let him show that athleticism. I think will come in and do a really good job. You know, he cares. He wants to be here. He's from here. And he wants to prove that he can play football. . . . The tight end position is vital to our success. When you look at a lot of great football teams, a lot of great NFL teams, they've got great tight ends. You've got to have somebody that can control inside the hashes and can stretch the field vertically, if you have to make physical catches in between linebackers and safeties. And we want that. So, we've worked hard to, at least on paper, improve that position."

Boone was one of the most sought-after running backs in the portal in this cycle. Brohm said he had recruited him out of high school while coach at Purdue. Boone played sparingly in two seasons at Michigan before averaging 7.2 yards per carry last year at Toledo, while rushing for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns.

"He's a big physical back," Brohm said. "He's had an interesting path as well, we recruited him out of Michigan when I was at Purdue. He went to Maryland, maybe didn't play as much as he would've liked, and then went to Toledo and played well. So, I think now he wants to come back and prove that he can play against great competition at a high level. So once again, you see the circumstance of a guy that's hungry and wants to prove his worth and wants to utilize this spring and summer and fall to get himself in the best shape that he possibly can to go out there and perform against great competition. I think he understands he's got to get in great shape. And right now through workouts he's done a good job but we want to get him in better shape so that he can go out there and perform each week and stay healthy. But he definitely is a big, strong, physical back that we feel adds great value to our team."

For Louisville, like for everyone, it's become a new ballgame. But Brohm is adapting well.

"The college landscape has changed quite a bit and it will probably keep adapting and moving forward more," Brohm said. "But we just try to make the most of it. From our end, you've always got to be ready for roster change, from guys who graduate to entering the NFL Draft to just being unhappy with their playing time. Add in that these guys can transfer freely, and you just have to be prepared to add to your roster. I think we're in good position. We were in on it early, our coaches and recruiting staff, identified what we thought could help us and were active in trying to go get it. We feel good about what we've brought to the table. Of course, now we've got to work with them and they've got to prove their worth and we all have to gel together. But in my opinion, if you work all winter and spring and summer, in fall camp you should be able to piece things together if you put the time in. I'm looking forward to it. ... We're definitely not scared of change, not scared of trying to find ways to improve."

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