Louisville Football 2026 Position Previews: Tight Ends

Petrino 3.0, anyone?  You’ve got it! 

Paul Petrino is returning for his third stint at Louisville, this time as the tight ends coach.  Familiarity and pride is something that coach Jeff Brohm has brought to this staff. Petrino was the receivers for coach for John L. Smith from 1998-1999 & offensive coordinator for his brother, Bobby Petrino from 2003-2006.  The Cards were first in the country in total offense (539.8 ypg) and scoring offense (49.8 ppg) in 2004 & second in the country in total offense in 2006 (475.5 ypg).    

Brody Foley is one of the prized pieces of the 2026 transfer class.  A first team All-AAC performer for the Tulsa last season, Foley pulled in 37 receptions for seven scores.  Standing 6-6 and a menacing 260 pounds, the Golden Hurricane lined Foley up in goal line situations where he accounted for two more scores. 

Foley spent the first three seasons of his college career at Indiana where he saw action on special teams.  He will be a red-zone and play action threat for an offense that gets the tight ends involved in multiple facets. 

A conference mate of Foley’s is also coming into the fold for Brohm’s offense this fall.  Justyn Reid, a 6-5 senior transferring in from Tulane, is seen as a strong run blocker who can also add production in the receiving game.  

Reid played his first two seasons collegiately at Southern Miss before transferring to Tulane last season.  He hauled in 17 receptions for 200 yards and three scores, including a 29-yard TD against Ole Miss in the college football playoff last season. 

Jaleel Skinner is the veteran in the room.  He started his career at Miami in 022-23 where he played in 11 games and caught 10 passes for 138 yards and a score.  He has played in all 25 games since joining Louisville.  In 2024, he appeared mostly on special teams.

In 2025, Skinner caught 21 passes for 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns, one of which against rival Kentucky.  Skinner will be used more in short yardage routes and red zone receiving situations.  He has good speed and awareness in the open field. 

Dylan Messman will be returning for his third season with the Cards.  He was a four star prospect coming out of high school but has only appeared in one game for Louisville. He stands 6-5 and will be one of those guys that needs to be ready to go as a strong depth piece. 

Freshman Julius Miles came in at 6-6, weighing 220 pounds and will be an intriguing weapon for the offense.  Coach Brohm has singled him out on several occasions as a candidate to stretch out to receivers in red zone situations.  The staff would like to see him get stronger for the tight end position, but his height and play making availability makes him an intriguing target.  He had 158 receptions for 2,809 yards and 30 scores at Freeport High School, breaking the school record for touchdowns in a career.  

Also rostered:

Travis Egan (6-2, 220, Bullitt East, Mount Washington, KY)

Hamilton Atkins (6-4, 250, Saint Xavier, Louisville, KY)  

Next up on position previews, we round out the offense with the offensive line!