Louisville DE commit Xavier Porter updates rapport with Cardinals and recruits
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
TAMPA, Fla. – Holding 37 offers, on July 8, Xavier Porter announced to the world his commitment to the Louisville Cardinals. Since his verbal pledge, the Tampa Catholic (Fla.) defensive lineman has further immersed himself into being a Cardinal upping his phone time with defensive line coach Mark Hagen. The back-and-forth is developing the future player-coach relationship, and positioning the 6-4, 280-pound, defender for a great last ride.
When Porter committed to the Cardinals, RNG was there getting the inside scoop. Porter then shared how Louisville plans to utilize his skills in their scheme.
“They want to use me as a twitchy three-tech,” Porter stated. “They want me getting my paws on someone. But I can also play nose depending on the formation and the strongside. I feel like I will be the “X” factor on that defensive line soon.”
With the future in mind and a highly anticipated senior season ahead, Porter updated his summer workouts.
“I have really focused on play recognition, hand speed, hand placement, and dominating the point of attack,” Porter shared.
Buying in on his future with the ACC squad, coach Hagen in turn is committing himself to Porter’s development.
“Coach Hagen and I always talked every Wednesday, even before I committed, and now we are starting to talk every day,” Porter said. “We talk about d-line stuff. Since he knows that I am fully committed to him, he has opened up and has started to help developing me.”
Porter continued sharing the tips coach Hagen is passing along, “Staying low. I feel that I beat a lot of people with my hands, but staying low will help me dominate the point of attack instead of just winning it.”
The bond among the Louisville recruits is growing, and Porter is getting insight from reclassified 2024 to 2023 four-star Miami-Columbus edge/outside linebacker TJ Capers.
“I’ve been talking to my guy Cole McConathy, he’s from Spanish Fork (Ala.),” Porter stated. “He’s a big 6-5 d-end. We were talking during our visit; that was my first visit to Louisville. We were talking then telling each other if the other visits do not work out, this is where we are at. We planned it; we were talking about it.
“I’ve been talking to my guy TJ Capers, who has been committed to Louisville for a long time. He just reclassified. It has been good talking to my guys. TJ said it is smooth, so I am expecting it to be smooth when I go there.”
If all works out, Porter will be at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium on Oct. 7.
“They are going to play Notre Dame at the “Ville” this year, that is a game I really want to go see,” Porter said. “I will be blessed to go see any game there. I want to see that in-game environment there.”
When Porter committed to the Cardinals, he credited coach Hagen and linebackers coach Mark Ivey for their consistency in recruiting him and letting Porter know he is a priority in their 2024 class.