First-year University of Louisville head football coach Steve Kragthorpe announced the addition of 14 student-athletes to the Cardinal football program on Wednesday.
Despite not being named head coach until January 10, Kragthorpe pulled together one of the finest recruiting classes in school history, including five-star recruit Woodny Turenne, the top-rated junior college player and cornerback in the nation and former University of Miami linebacker Willie Williams.
Despite signing just 14 recruits, Kragthorpe lured student-athletes from eight different states.
Turenne, a junior-college All-American, played at the College of Sequoias for the last two seasons. Last year, Turenne recorded eight interceptions and a team-high 25 pass break-ups. As a freshman in 2005, Turenne registered 10 interceptions.
Williams comes to Louisville after spending one year at West Los Angeles Community College where he was a first team All-Conference performer after playing in just four games. He recorded over 50 tackles and nine sacks in limited action.
Chaz Thompson from the College of Siskiyous, is the third junior-college recruit for Kragthorpe. Thompson is ranked as the fifth-best junior-college cornerback and is one of the best special teams players in the country. He recorded four interceptions and averaged 89.2 all-purpose yards per game.
Over the last few seasons, the University of Louisville has signed the best players in the city, and that was the case again in 2007. Male High School's Doug Beaumont and St. Xavier's Victor Anderson, two of the top players in the city, have both signed at U of L.
Beaumont, who was named Mr. Football in the state of Kentucky and the Gatorade Player of the Year, was responsible for 5,954 yards rushing and receiving. He carried 137 times for 1,169 yards and 24 touchdowns, while catching 39 passes for 500 yards.
Anderson is St. Xavier's all-time leading rusher after gaining 4,008 yards and 75 touchdowns. This season, Anderson rushed for over 1,400 yards and 22 touchdowns. He was a first team All-State performer and was named the District's Co-Player of the Year.
Zach Kiernan is the third prospect from the state of Kentucky. Considered one of the top players in the state, Kiernan guided Newport Central Catholic to back-to-back state titles. He recorded 108 tackles and 28 tackles for loss during his senior campaign.
Mark Wetterer is a signee from the state of Ohio. Wetterer dominated on both sides of the football at Anderson High School. He was selected first team All-Southwest Ohio and second team All-Ohio.
Matt Simms and Greg Tomczyk are two top prospects out of the state of New Jersey. Simms, the son of NFL great Phil Simms, looks to be another talented signal-caller in the Derby City. Simms guided Don Bosco Prep to a perfect 12-0 record and a state title last year, throwing for over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns. Tomczyk is a talented offensive tackle from a prep school and is rated the 45th-best prep school prospect in the nation.
Running back Dale Martin from Bolingbrook High School in Illinois, is one of the most talented running backs in the nation. Martin finished as the school's second all-time leading rusher with 3,727 yards. He rushed for 1,557 yards and 21 touchdowns in leading the Raiders to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the state quarterfinals.
Kragthorpe snagged three signees from the Sunshine State in running back Bilal Powell and athletes Josh Miller and Patrick Grant. Powell played both running back and cornerback at Lake Gibson High School. He rushed for 1,960 yards and 26 touchdowns in leading his team to a 10-3 record before losing in the third round of the playoffs. Miller is an athlete from Palatka High School, who projects to be a wide receiver at the collegiate level. He rushed for 912 yards and nine touchdowns, while throwing for 520 yards. Grant, who played defensive end in high school, looks to be a linebacker in college. Grant recorded 85 tackles and 15 sacks as a senior and is listed as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Florida.
Tight end Michael Fennerty hails from the state of Washington and Olympia High School. Fennerty is one of the top 25 players in Washington after catching 28 passes for 532 yards and 10 touchdowns.
2007 Louisville Football Recruiting Class
High School Signees (12)
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (Previous School) |
| Victor Anderson | RB/ATH | 5-9 | 175 | Louisville, Ky. (St. Xavier HS) |
| Doug Beaumont | WR | 5-9 | 180 | Louisville, Ky. (Male HS) |
| Michael Fennerty | TE | 6-4 | 220 | Olympia, Wash. (Olympia HS) |
| Patrick Grant | ATH | 6-4 | 218 | Sunrise, Fla. (Boyd Anderson HS) |
| Zach Kiernan | DE | 6-6 | 240 | Cold Springs, Ky. (Newport Central Catholic) |
| Dale Martin | RB | 6-0 | 190 | Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook HS) |
| Josh Miller | ATH | 6-2 | 185 | Palatka, Fla. (Palatka HS) |
| C.J. Peake | S | 6-2 | 210 | Trotwood, Oh. (Trotwood-Madison HS) |
| Bilal Powell | DB | 6-0 | 200 | Lakeland, Fla. (Lake Gibson HS) |
| Matt Simms | QB | 6-3 | 195 | Franklin Lake, N.J. (Don Bosco Prep) |
| Greg Tomczyk | OL | 6-6 | 290 | Long Valley, N.J. (The Hun School) |
| Mark Wetterer | OL | 6-5 | 300 | Cincinnati, Ohio (Anderson HS) |
Junior College Signees (3)
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (Previous School) |
| Chaz Thompson | DB | 6-1 | 195 | Texas City, Texas (College of the Siskiyous) |
| Woodny Turenne | DB | 6-1 | 190 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (College of the Sequoias) |
| Willie Williams | LB | 6-3 | 225 | Miami, Fla. (West Los Angeles CC) |