Rutgers transfer DL Rene Konga commits to Louisville

Former Rutgers defensive lineman Rene Konga is expected join the Louisville Cardinals via the transfer portal, On3 has learned. 

The former three-star from Ontario, Canada, is a senior and can play immediately for the Cardinals. He played in 21 career games with the Scarlet Knights, racking up 14 career tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. 

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive lineman played in 10 games this past season, totaling eight tackles with a strip sack. Konga is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. 

Rutgers finished the 2023 season with a 7-6 record, beating Miami 31-24 in the Pinstripe Bowl. The Scarlet Knights went 3-3 in Big Ten play. Konga was a late addition to the 2020 recruiting class, redshirting his first season and dealing with injuries early in his stint at Rutgers. He only had six scholarship offers coming out of high school. 

Konga’s best game of the season came against Northwestern when he tallied four tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. 

Konga played high school football at Ottawa (CA), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 919 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Louisville LB Jaylin Alderman plans to enter NCAA transfer portal

Moreover, Louisville gainign Rene Konga is a big addition for their defense, especially after the news that linebacker Jaylin Alderman plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Alderman recorded 31 solo tackles and 1.5 sacks during his junior season with the Cardinals.

The Valdosta, Georgia native was a three-star recruit before committing to the Cardinals in 2021. He was the No. 131 overall player at his position, per the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

Alderman’s call to fame during his Louisville tenure came during his freshman season, securing a pick-six to defeat UCF 42-35. The pass, thrown by then quarterback Dillon Gabriel, was taken back 66 yards for the highlight-reel score. It was the first interception of his career.

He played two total seasons for the Cardinals, totaling 79 total tackles (42 solo), two passes defender, and 1.5 sacks to go along with the aforementioned interception and touchdown.

On3’s Pete Nakos contributed to this article.