Louisville continues to be active in the transfer portal, and they’ve recently added Rene Konga from Rutgers to their roster. Konga, a former defensive lineman for the Scarlet Knights, made his commitment to the Cardinals just 10 days after entering the transfer portal.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 290 pounds, Konga played in 21 games for Rutgers, with 10 appearances last year where he made eight tackles and had a strip sack.
Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Konga joined Rutgers in the 2020 class after attending Colonel By Secondary School. He still has two years of eligibility remaining.
Konga was initially part of the class of 2021 but reclassified to 2020 when he committed to Rutgers in the summer of 2020. Syracuse, UNLV, Boise State, Toledo, and UConn were also interested in him when he was in high school.
WHAT RENE KONGA SAYS ABOUT LOUISVILLE
“I felt it was the ideal match for me,” Konga explained. “Louisville appeared to be very focused and competitive, and watching their games last year confirmed that as they achieved many victories. They boast talented players on the defensive line, and joining that group would greatly benefit my growth.
“Coach Mark Hagen has guided many players to the NFL, whether at Louisville or his previous coaching stops. This, combined with the defensive scheme, made it a highly appealing opportunity for me.”
WHO ELSE WAS IN THE MIX?
Once Konga entered the transfer portal, he received offers swiftly, including one from Texas A&M. Cincinnati also expressed interest, but ultimately, it boiled down to a showdown between Louisville and Kentucky. Although the Wildcats made a strong push, Louisville emerged victorious and secured Konga’s commitment.
WHERE RENE KONGA RANKS AS A RECRUIT
HOW RENE KONGA FITS WITH LOUISVILLE
Louisville’s roster overhaul continues, primarily driven by the transfer portal. The Cardinals are heavily involved in portal activity, bringing in over two dozen transfers. Konga isn’t the only addition to their defensive line. Thor Griffith from Harvard and Jordan Guerad from Florida International are also incoming transfer defensive linemen, along with edge rusher Myles Jernigan from Cal. Konga brings versatility as he can play on the edge or shift inside.
WHAT WE THINK ABOUT RENE KONGA
According to 247Sports transfer portal analyst Clint Brewster, Konga brings valuable on-field experience and possesses the body type that many programs desire in their prospects.
“Konga can fulfill a role on the interior defensive line and line up between the 3-5 shades for Louisville,” Brewster explained. “In 2023, he played 189 snaps as a rotational piece for Rutgers. Defensive linemen are highly sought after, and Konga has some desirable qualities with his body type and quickness off the ball. He has a solid frame but could benefit from developing more functional strength.
“Konga shows reactive play and displays disruptive tendencies behind the line of scrimmage. If he continues to improve his consistency and learns to leverage his lower body strength effectively, he has the potential to excel.”
