Kyle Louis is a first-team All-American (a second-team All-American, according to CBS Sports), but CBS Sports still somehow doesn’t view Louis as one of the best players in college football.
So, that invalidates the list right there. It’s pretty simple.
According to Blake Brockermayer of CBS Sports, Louis isn’t one of the top 150 players in college football this season. Brockermayer included eight linebackers in his list, and somehow, Louis didn’t make the cut.
Louis has been named an All-American by AP, CBS Sports, The Athletic and Sporting News voters. He earned first-team All-ACC honors, receiving the third-most votes for ACC Defensive Player of the Year behind only Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku and Virginia Tech’s Antwaun Ryland-Powell.
Ezeiruaku was 15th and Powell-Ryland was 28th. Louis wasn’t ranked. Two votes separated Powell-Ryland and Louis.
Here are the eight linebackers ranked ahead of Louis, along with Louis:
Louis — 97 tackles (41 solo), 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks, four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), one forced fumble and two pass breakups
1 – Anthony Hill Jr., Texas — 90 tackles (47 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception, four forced fumbles, one forced fumble and one pass breakup
2 – Jihaad Campbell, Alabama — 106 tackles (54 solo), 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups
3 – Jay Higgins, Iowa — 118 tackles (49 solo), three tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, one recovery and five pass breakups
4 – Whit Weeks, LSU — 119 tackles (58 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and three pass breakups
5 – Carson Schwesinger, UCLA — 136 tackles (90 solo), nine tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and three pass breakups
6 – Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma — 109 tackles (44 solo), eight tackles for loss and one sack
7 – Chris Paul, Ole Miss — 88 tackles (50 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and four pass breakups
8 – Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech — 118 tackles (72 solo), 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four pass breakups
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It ultimately doesn’t mean much, but it’s just an example of Louis — the best player on the Pitt roster this season — not receiving the respect he deserves. He certainly hasn’t been disrespected by his coaches and teammates.
“I don’t do the (All-American) voting, but I know that I love that he’s on our team every single Saturday,” Safeties coach Cory Sanders said last month. “I do know that. I know that I love that he’s on our team every single practice, the way that he works, the way he shows and the way he makes everybody else better around him. So, at the end of the day, whoever does all that voting, hopefully they vote right.”
Louis doesn’t care about postseason accolades, whether it’s All-ACC, All-American or more. His goal has been to win, and he knows that with wins, everything else will fall into place.
“I don’t really focus on that type of thing, I just try to keep tunnel vision on the next team, next opponent and how can I help my people win this game,” Louis said earlier this year. “That’s the main thing I just focus on.”
Regardless, Kyle Louis put together one of the best seasons not just in the ACC but in all of college football. He was the most impactful player on the field every time he stepped onto the field, and that’s evidenced by his All-ACC and All-American honors.
“We knew Kyle had All-America ability back in the spring,” Pat Narduzzi said. “He absolutely delivered on our lofty expectations with an outstanding year. His production and impact were incredible. On behalf of our entire program, we congratulate Kyle on this richly deserved honor from The Sporting News. The best thing is, Kyle Louis is going to be even better in 2025.”
