Louisville Flips Tennessee Transfer DB Tamarion McDonald from Ole Miss

The Louisville's football program's transfer portal recruiting hot streak has now seen them flip another already committed transfer.

Tamarion McDonald, a defensive back who spent the first four years of his collegiate career at Tennessee, announced Monday that he has committed to the Cardinals. He had previously been committed to Ole Miss, giving his verbal pledge to the Rebels last month before flipping.

McDonald is the second transfer to flip their commitment to Louisville in this cycle after they were able to pull FIU defensive tackle transfer Jordan Guerad from Minnesota. He's also the Cardinals' second portal commitment of the day following fellow former Volunteer Wesley Welker, and their eighth commitment over the past four days.

A multi-year starter at the STAR position for Tennessee, which operates as a nickelback in their scheme, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound defensive back is coming off of his best season in college. Starting the first 10 games of the 2023 regular season before missing the final two due to injury, just like his former teammate Walker, McDonald finished with 40 tackles (23 solo), 3.5 for loss, a sack, an interception and four pass breakups.

The Memphis, Tenn. native also put together a great junior year in 2022, starting all 13 games and logging 55 tackles (38 solo), 4.0 for loss, two interceptions and six pass breakups. Add in his freshman and sophomore years, where he served as a key reserve for the Vols, and McDonald logged 95 tackles, 8.5 for loss, a sack, four interceptions and 12 pass breakups during his time in Knoxville.

As stacked as Louisville will be at safety next season, their own STAR position should once again serve as a crucial aspect of their defense in 2024. The Cardinals bring back both Benjamin Perry and Antonio Watts, with Perry serving as the X-Factor for the entire defense and Watts making multiple plays whenever he saw the field.

Louisville has now landed 24 transfer commitments in this cycle, while also seeing 18 scholarship players of their own enter the portal during the winter transfer window.

The Cardinals finished their 2023 season with an overall mark of 10-4 (7-1 in ACC) including a berth in the program's first ever ACC Championship Game, but ended year one under head coach Jeff Brohm on a three-game losing streak.