Louisville "expecting big things" out of T.J. Capers ahead of 2025 season

Louisville linebacker T.J. Capers’ college career hasn’t gone according to plan. But maybe the plan is just a little behind schedule. 

Up until injuring his hand early in the 2024 season, the former five-star recruit had seen time as a reserve linebacker, even tallying an interception in the week one opener against Austin Peay. However, from that point on, the South Beach product struggled to be productive on the field, with the derailing injury being a factor. He appeared in 11 games as a reserve last fall, finishing with just six tackles and a game-high of two that he collected at Boston College. 

It’s been a career full of challenges in the red and black for Capers. After reclassifying to the 2023 class, he was expected to play a significant role as a 17-year-old true freshman, but suffered an offseason knee injury that kept him sidelined. 

“He certainly has had some things that have hindered him,” linebackers coach Mark Ivey said Monday. “When he came in, it was well-known he was rehabilitating and rehabbing that knee… and then last year he hurt his hand…but was really starting to do some good things.”

Out of Columbus HS (Miami, Fla.), Capers was a top-30 player out of the state of Florida, and had he not reclassed, the former five-star would have been the highest-rated recruit in the history of the Louisville program. Rivals eventually ranked Capers as the No. 144 overall prospect in 2023 and the No. 14-ranked linebacker in the nation. 

The talented 6-foot-2 backer still has three years of eligibility remaining, but after making progress this spring, Capers was expected to enter the transfer portal in April, before eventually returning to Louisville.  

As both a highly scouted and touted high school prospect, there have always been expectations for Capers. But now he has a chance to back them up with his play. 

Heading into the 2025 season, Capers is finally ready to step up and see a healthy number of snaps as a rotational linebacker. 

“I’m ready to take a bigger role,” Capers said during fall camp. “I feel comfortable in our defense. I like how much we learn and gel with each other…I kinda know what to expect from the guy next to me. I feel like we’re all gonna give each other our all every play.”

“I’m expecting big things out of T.J. Capers,” said Ivey. “I think he’ll do an excellent job this year, and it’s time for him to do so, being his third year here.” 

In all, Louisville’s linebacker room is among the best in the ACC. The group is experienced with three returners who started last season: TJ Quinn, Stanquan Clark, and Antonio Watts.  But when you add depth with guys like Capers and Kalib Perry, there’s certainly potential for this group to make a big impact on the defensive side of the ball. 

Ivey mentioned his patience and how many players don’t develop as they used to in college football, and are tempted to look in other directions if they expect to contribute right away. 

“I give him credit,” said Ivey. “There’s been some frustrations…but now he’s starting to see some of the benefits of that. He’s on a day-to-day basis, and I think all of these guys are; this is a really inquisitive group. As soon as they come off the field, the maturity level is different right now, because they’re asking football questions.” 

“He’s done a really good job mentally, of sitting in our room…and every day asking — was that the right way to do it, coach, is there a better way to do it?”

Capers has even gotten some first-team reps with Clark’s injury this past spring. 

Despite not having the most game experience, Capers has quietly been building consecutive seasons of practice reps in the same system, which, in today’s world of the transfer portal, has to mean something. 

“Coach (Jeff) Brohm, playing against his offense, he runs a lot of different concepts and formations. And I feel like I learn so much,” Capers said. “I kinda know what to expect, so when I am on the field, I can kinda play a little bit faster and do less thinking.” 

“When we play fast and we know what’s going on, that’s probably our best defense.”

With limited experience and snaps against live competition, look out for Capers in the first few weeks of the season as he gets settled. But it seems like his time has finally come to make an impact.

Louisville football opens the season on Saturday against Eastern Kentucky, with kickoff at 3 PM EST.