The University of Louisville football program has secured 23 commitments for the Class of 2026 but continues to pursue additional talent. One prospect they’ve recently targeted is Carmel High School (Indiana) defensive end Dane Bathurst, who is currently committed to Duke since early February. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound athlete was visited by Louisville’s defensive line coach, Mark Hagen, during the Cardinals’ bye week, and both Hagen and head coach Jeff Brohm attended Bathurst’s game when Carmel faced Louisville Trinity.
Bathurst expressed gratitude for the attention, saying, “I’m super blessed.” He also visited L&N Stadium with his mother to watch Louisville’s win over Bowling Green, describing the atmosphere as “impressive” and noting positive interactions with the coaching staff.
Previously, Bathurst played his junior year at Plant High School in Tampa, Florida, where he recorded 36 tackles (27 solo), 10 sacks, and an interception while playing outside linebacker and tight end. At Carmel, he’s a versatile defender with 42 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, and eight quarterback hurries. Bathurst, who chose Duke over offers from Boston College, USF, Syracuse, and Kansas among his 16 total scholarship offers, comes from an athletic family with a Navy Seal father and elite swimmers.