Louisville Football Daily Newsletter (Aug. 16)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville football team will be going behind closed doors after the squad conducted its fourth and final public practice of preseason camp on Tuesday morning.

Practicing for a little over two hours under mostly cloudy skies and cool conditions, the Cardinals are inching closer to the Sept. 1 opener at home against Charlotte.

With just 16 days before the season officially opens, the Cardinals are working on a variety of topics, both offensively and defensively, to prepare for their difficult 12-game schedule.

With some minor injuries on the defensive side of the football, the Cardinals utilized a number of different looks to help them for the opener and the tough ACC slate ahead of them.

Assistant secondary coach Cort Dennison, entering his first full-time season on staff, addressed the media after practice and said the Cardinals are trying to get more speed on the field to combat some of the spread formations they see over the course of the season.

"You see some of the teams we play, you've got to be able to do it," Dennison said. "We're going to face some teams with a lot of speed on the field, and we've got to be able to counter back with the best we can put on the field."

Senior safety Josh Harvey-Clemons is one player who has displayed his versatility this camp with his ability to play anywhere on the defense.

Playing strictly safety last season, Harvey-Clemons recorded 88 tackles and was second on the team in interceptions with three. He opened his UofL career in impressive fashion – posting 14 tackles and a pair of interceptions in a 31-24 loss to Auburn.

However, entering his senior season, he has used this camp to showcase his position flexibility, which has impressed the defensive staff. The Valdosta, Ga., native knows he still has a lot to improve upon to bolster the Cardinals' defense – a unit that finished in the top 20 over the last two seasons – but has worked hard this summer and in camp to become a better overall football player.

"It's a big year for me," Harvey-Clemons said. "I feel that I have a lot to show and a lot to prove. I just want to build on what I did last season. I have to make better plays on the ball and improve my tackling."

Playing safety and linebacker in Tuesday's full-padded practice, Harvey-Clemons roamed the field, ultimately to offset a few injuries on defense. The flexibility will help strengthen the defense, while also helping him increase his stock as he looks to the next move on to the next level.

"I think I get to play the run a lot heavier at the linebacker position," Harvey-Clemons said. "I like that because I get to tackle and make plays on the ball. I'm a little small down there for linebacker, but I have to be a little slippery to fight off the blocks."

One player who has benefitted from additional repetitions with a couple of players being out of the lineup has been Ronald Walker, who enrolled early last winter from Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

A four-star prospect, Walker has worked his way into the rotation with his physical style of play and his knowledge of the defense.

"He's got all the physical tools," Dennison said of Walker. "He's got the athletic ability. The mental side of things, if he continues to improve, he's going to be a really good player for us."

Overall, Dennison likes what he sees from his experienced unit – even despite the early, yet usual, injuries.

"We are just trying to get better every day," Dennison said, "improvements in all aspects of the game. Our guys have multiple things they have to work on, but we want them to work hard in practice to continue to improve."

The march toward the opener continues Wednesday, when the Cardinals hit the practice field at 9 a.m. for the 17th session this fall.

University of Louisville Athletics

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