Ex-Louisville Cardinals offensive lineman Luke Kandra, a former Elder High School standout who played offensive guard and defensive tackle for the Panthers, announced Thursday via Twitter his commitment to the Cincinnati Bearcats.New Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield recruited Kandra to Louisville from Elder where he was an All-Ohio offensive lineman for a Panthers team that went 12-3 and finished as the Ohio Division I state runner-up in 2019. Kandra was also recruited locally by Luke Fickell, then-head coach at UC. Kandra had received an offer from UC when he committed to UofL in June 2019.Kandra joins new Cincinnati offensive line coach Nic Cardwell who led the Cardinals' blockers in 2022. Kandra will have at least two years of eligibility for the Bearcats. Now 20 pounds heavier than his high school playing weight at 320 pounds on his 6-foot-5-inch frame, Kandra describes "Coach Satt" as a good person and coach."For me, it was easy to like him, understand him and his philosophy of football," Kandra told The Enquirer. "The decisions he made he made for the betterment of the team. That's all he wants to do is put the team first."Kandra played special teams in 2021 on field goals and started a pair of games in 2022 sandwiched around an injury. He started his final game against Kentucky."I started at right guard, but I can play both," he said.Kandra announced Wednesday via Twitter that he decided to enter the transfer portal - and later added that he received an offer from UC. He hopes more Cardinals come north on Interstate 71. His move personally is welcome with his parents as he has a twin brother, Collin, who plays football at Mount St. Joseph in Delhi."They're happy for me," Kandra said of his parents. "They were supportive of me getting in the portal and coming back to Cincinnati.Kandra's head coach with the Cardinals, Scott Satterfield, was introduced earlier this week as UC's new head coach. Kandra will now be part of the move to the Big 12, but brings ACC experience and the hard-nosed ways of the Greater Catholic League-South from his days at Elder's Pit.The University of Louisville is finalizing a deal to bring Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm, who played quarterback for the Cardinals, back to his alma mater.LOVE SPORTS? [ Subscribe now for unlimited access to Cincinnati.com ] Source link
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