4-star QB Lamar Jackson sticks with U of L

The Louisville football team held on to a key recruit on national signing day when four-star quarterback Lamar Jackson announced he’d sign with the Cardinals over the home-state Florida Gators. He’s one of the country’s best dual-threat quarterbacks.

Jackson, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound player from Boynton Beach High School. had been committed to U of L for months but considered other schools along the way. Jim McElwain’s new UF staff made him a priority, and he visited Gainesville last weekend.

However, the Cards benefited from Jackson’s strong relationship with U of L wide receivers coach Lamar Thomas, who played and coached under Jackson’s high school coach.

“I think he’s like Nick Marshall who was at Auburn but throws it better,” 247Sports.com analyst Ryan Bartow said. “He was a one-man band this year. He would put on shows where he would get 4-6 touchdowns a game, 400 combined yards with running and throwing. He’s a legit four-star guy, one of the better dual-threat guys in the class.”

It should be fascinating to watch how U of L’s QB picture for next year shakes out. Jackson is a highly talented player to add to a roster that has part-time starters Will Gardner, Reggie Bonnafon and Kyle Bolin, transfer Tyler Ferguson and former junior-college player Pat Thomas.