Louisville’s 2025 recruiting class gains another valuable addition with Caleb Matelau, the linebacker from Palmetto, Fla., confirming his commitment to the Cardinals after a recent visit. Matelau, expressing his excitement, emphasized how quickly he felt at home within the team. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 215 pounds, he boasts an impressive junior season record with 96 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, one pass deflection, and one blocked punt. His stellar performance over his high school career, totaling 252 tackles in 29 games, caught the attention of recruiters.
Matelau’s aggressive style of play, combined with his amiable off-field demeanor, resonated well with the Louisville coaching staff. He credits Coach Mark Ivey for giving him his first offer, and he holds high regard for Coach Brohm and defensive coordinator Ron English. His visit during the spring game and official visit further solidified his decision. Hearing about the team’s tight-knit culture and dedication to improvement, particularly through post-practice film sessions, appealed greatly to Matelau.
His talent was further showcased at the National Preps Champion National Combine in February, where despite the non-padded format, his lateral quickness and coverage skills stood out. Matelau’s commitment marks a significant addition to Louisville’s recruiting efforts, reinforcing their defense with his hard-nosed style of play and promising potential.
