2 defensive players return to Louisville football under '5-for-5' rule
Louisville will see the return of two former players under the NCAA's new "5-for-5" rule. They both will bolster the Cardinals' defense.
Cornerback Jabari Mack and linebacker Kalib Perry are set to return to the Louisville football program, having been granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA, according to on3. The NCAA introduced a rule allowing student-athletes to earn a fifth year of eligibility, provided they meet all eligibility requirements and begin college no later than the year after their 19th birthday.
This rule was subsequently extended to the Class of 2022. Louisville's head coach, Jeff Brohm, expressed openness to bringing back former players if they received the extra season. Mack, who played his college football at Jacksonville State before transferring to Louisville, returned for the 2025 season and quickly became a starter.
He contributed with two interceptions, two pass breakups, and 34 total tackles. Perry, a transfer from Kentucky, had previously been projected to start alongside Holloway, but spent most of his time on the team behind Stanquan Clark and T.J. Capers, amassing 55 tackles and an interception. Louisville begins their season on September 6 against Ole Miss.
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