DeVonte Fields has arrived, the one that University of Louisville football fans couldn’t wait to see this season.
Yes, the same DeVonte Fields, who as a freshman at TCU was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks with 10 sacks that season.
It has taken a while for him to get back into form, following a juco season at Trinity Valley College in Texas. Coach Bobby Petrino saying at the beginning of the season that he wasn’t at full speed, wondering where his head and heart were during a thrashing at the hands of Florida State.
Following that game Fields went to Petrino, essentially apologizing to his coach, pledging to do better. The coach listening, encouraging, telling Fields to show him on the field.
Since then Fields has excelled, showing signs of returning to his former superiority. In four games, he has recorded 18 solo tackles and three sacks in wins over Boston College, Wake Forest, Syracuse and Virginia.
Field was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in the Virginia win. The Fort Worth native had five solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack as the Cardinals limited the Cavaliers to 354 yards of total offense and only 94 yards rushing.
He currently leads the Cardinals with 13 tackles for loss and has been credited with 3.5 sacks. He is is fourth on the squad with 47 total tackles.
DeVonte Fields has arrived. Just in time.