RNE linebacker T.J. Brunson commits to Louisville

Richland Northeast linebacker T.J. Brunson has made a pledge to play college football for Louisville.

Brunson visited the Cardinals on Thursday and announced his commitment Friday afternoon.

“It’s somewhere I really like and they want me just as much as I’d like to go there,” he said. “You can see they care about the development of a player on and off the field.”

Brunson is a three-star prospect and the No. 18 player in South Carolina for the Class of 2016, according to 247Sports’ Composite rating that factors in all networks.

He visited Louisville for around five hours Thursday with his parents, touring the campus, seeing the facilities and making a stop inside Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. They were able to speak with head coach Bobby Petrino and interact with some Louisville players.

“My parents loved it,” he said. “My dad is a Carolina fan. They wanted me to go where I felt at home at because they’re not going to be the one in the classroom and playing there. They felt that I would be in good hands.”

Brunson said defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and recruiter Tony Grantham, who coaches inside linebackers, told him they like his versatility.

“They like where I can play inside and outside,” he said. “They’re losing a few guys to the draft, so they’re going to need somebody who can play both. They said they don’t get many guys who can play both.”

Brunson is making progress in his recovery from offseason hip surgery. He has been cleared for everything except full contact, he said, something he hopes happens by mid-August.

He was RNE’s leading tackler the past two seasons. He also considered South Carolina, North Carolina, East Carolina and Georgia Southern among others.

Brunson came close to making a commitment this spring to the hometown Gamecocks, but USC coaches wanted to see him healed up and back to normal on the field this fall.

Brunson said he still wants to take most of his five official visits once his senior season begins, in addition to some other unofficial trips along the way.

This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "RNE linebacker T.J. Brunson commits to Louisville."