4-star 2025 prospect C.J. May spills the beans on his decision to commit to Louisville: "It's a great spot for me"

Four-star edge rusher C.J. May, from Highland Home High School in Alabama, committed to Louisville's 2025 class on Saturday. He announced it during a livestream by sliding on a red Cardinals hat, choosing the program over Auburn, Syracuse, Washington, Clemson, Penn State and Tennessee, among others.

May originally committed to Notre Dame on Sept. 23 before de-committing from the program on Feb. 4. He was courted by multiple programs following his de-commitment, and Louisville was one of them. The prospect attended the Cardinals' spring practice and later made an official visit from May 31 to June 2.

“It’s a great spot for me,” May told On3. “It’s not too far for my family to travel to. The depth chart is set up perfectly for me when I come in and all I have to do is execute the plans they have for me."

Though Auburn Undercover's Christian Clemente marked the wide receiver as a "cold" target for the Tigers earlier this month, the Cardinals started to gain an edge as his announcement date was getting near.

C.J. May's bond with Louisville coach Jeff Brohm and co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Mark Hagen played a major role.

"Coach Brohm has done a great job recruiting me as a head coach," May told Rivals. "As a head coach, your main job isn't recruiting. That's the case for most schools, but Coach Brohm did an amazing job recruiting me.

"Hagen has been my main guy ... I'm not one of those guys who does constant calls, but Hagen is one of those guys I can talk to every day. He makes sure I'm good mentally, physically, as a person, and that speaks a lot about the person he is."

May was also attracted to the program's potential and resources.

"I feel like I can compete early for a starting role there," May told On3. "They have a lot of resources outside of football, which is one thing I really love about the school. I feel like I fit in really well with the program.”

During his junior season, C.J. May recorded 54 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and 7.5 sacks, along with two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception returned for a touchdown.

Cardinals recruiting class update with C.J. May's pledge

The Cardinals have definitely received a big boost to their 2025 recruiting class with the commitment of C.J. May, marking the first composite four-star recruit in this cycle.

According to 247Sports, he is ranked as the nation’s No. 146 overall prospect, the No. 17 EDGE and the No. 12 recruit from Alabama. On3 ranks him as the No. 50 EDGE and No. 22 recruit from the state.

C.J. May has become the fourth defensive line commit in the 2025 class. Louisville now has 13 prospects in the cycle, which boasts three-star prospects like Mason Mims, Tyrone Burrus, Jordan Allen, Caleb Matelau, Josh Johnson, Gradey Anthony, Antonio Harris, Jaylin Brown, Dillon Smith, Grant Houser, Micah Rice and Eric Hazzard.

The 2025 class has climbed from No. 56 to No. 55 in the nation, according to On3 team rankings. In the ACC, Louisville is ranked as the No. 13 program.