Belfry 2017 offensive lineman Cole Bentley, left, and Bobby Petrino pose with the Louisville "L" gesture during Bentley’s visit to U of L on Sunday, June 12, 2016. He is the Cards’ first 2017 in-state pledge.
Belfry High School offensive lineman Cole Bentley committed to the University of Louisville on Sunday during a visit to campus.
Bentley, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound guard, received a scholarship offer from the Cards earlier this month and later that week set Sunday as his decision date, saying he planned to commit to the school he visited that day. When U of L became the destination of that visit, it seemed inevitable that the Cards would land him.
Bentley is U of L’s eighth pledge in the 2017 class but the first from an in-state player. He’s the first Kentucky high school player outside of Louisville to pick the Cards since Bobby Petrino was rehired as coach. He is the third offensive lineman in the Cards’ 2017 class, along with Kansas junior-college guard Joey Palmer and Nevada high school guard Poutasi Poutasi.
Bentley is rated the No. 2 junior in the state and the No. 26 guard nationally by Rivals.com. He said U of L offensive line coach/co-coordinator Chris Klenakis has said he also could be used at center in college.
Georgia Tech, Virginia, Purdue, Cincinnati and Memphis were among the other scholarship offers he considered. Bentley said earlier this month that the University of Kentucky had recruited him but not offered and that its coaches told him they didn’t plan to sign a guard in 2017.
Bentley was a third-team Courier-Journal All-State pick as a defensive lineman. He played defensive tackle and blocking tight end for state champion Belfry. Five-star Lafayette offensive tackle Jedrick Wills is the only higher rated prospect in the state, according to Rivals.
Offensive Junior Year Highlights
Blessed to say I am Committing to The University of Louisville 🔴⚪️ #GoCards #L1C4 https://t.co/05KjmrsFJ6
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Cole Bentley (@cbent3445) June 12, 2016