Gnat picks Louisville

The Louisville football team picked up its eighth commitment in a big way Tuesday night when Rodney Gnat chose the Cardinals.

A three-star defensive end from Jacksonville, Fla., Gnat's commitment is a huge addition to the Louisville recruiting class. The first defensive lineman to commit to the Cards, Gnat will be joining a unit that ranks among the country's best at stopping the run. The 6-foot-3, 224-pounder is rated as the No. 31 defensive end in the class of 2006.

"I told the coaches that I was ready to be a Cardinal," Gnat told CardinalSports.com Wednesday. "I talked to Coach Johnson and then Coach Petrino."

Gnat's commitment comes on the heels of an official visit he took last weekend to Purdue. However, before making his trip to West Lafayette, Gnat received a visit himself. Louisville coach Bobby Petrino met with Gnat in his Jacksonville home for nearly an hour last week.

"It was everything I wanted in a school," Gnat said. "I wanted to commit all along."

Gnat's recent trip to Purdue was his third official visit. Earlier in the recruiting process, he also visited Louisville and Minnesota. During his visit to Louisville, Gnat got an upclose look at the Cardinals when they beat Rutgers 56-5.

"Just all the guys on the team got along with each other on the visit," Gnat said.

He will now see Louisville in action once more as the Cardinals come to his hometown to play in the Gator Bowl on January 2. Gnat plans to attend the game and has also been invited by the Cardinal coaching staff to watch the team practice as it prepares to face Virginia Tech. Gnat said he's likely done with visits and will plan on attending Louisville in the summertime to prepare for next fall.