Louisville Football: Two Defensive Players Granted Release

Bobby Petrino and the Louisville football program granted the full release to two defensive players, allowing them to transfer away.

This time of year is usually slow for football programs across the country, and any news that is released, is typically big news. That was the case today when it was announced that linebacker Isaac Stewart, and safety Lyn Strange would be allowed to transfer away.

Though both players were expected to receive more playing time this season for new Defensive Coordinator Brian VanGorder, after the Cards lost nine starters from last years team, it wasn’t enough to keep them from transferring. Though losing two reserves can be key to depth, this likely isn’t a huge blow to the chances of next years team. Both players will transfer away, looking for bigger roles in a team’s defense.

Isaac Stewart came to the Cards back in 2014 as a three star recruit out of Matthews, North Carolina. The redshirt senior, played 33 games during his time at Louisville, recording 57 tackles and just one sack. After seeing an increase in snaps last season due to the injury to starting linebacker Stacy Thomas, and playing somewhat well, Stewart came into the season as a potential key reserve behind sophomore Dorian Etheridge, and incoming freshman freshman Robert Hicks.

Unless Stewart transfers down to an FCS school, which could be a possibility due to him being able to play right away, Stewart will have to sit out the 2018-19 season, and would have one season of eligibility remaining.

Also transferring away from the Louisville football program is redshirt freshman Lyn Strange. Strange also came to Louisville as a three star recruit, hailing from Tallahassee, Florida. After sitting out his first season, Strange was seen as a potential contributor in a secondary that lost all four starters from last years squad.

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Just like Stewart, Strange could pursue moving down a level to an FCS program and play right away. If not, he would also have to sit out the ’18-’19 season and then would have three years of eligibility to play.

With Strange gone, the race to grab a starting safety spot becomes quite interesting. Returning to the UofL roster from last season is senior Dee Smith, who has the most experience by far, and sophomore Tre’Sean Smith, who is returning from a serious injury. Also returning is redshirt junior Khane Pass, and redshirt freshman Kaheem Roach.

Those guys will compete with incoming junior Marlon Character, who was a huge get for Bobby Petrino and staff coming out of NW Mississippi Community College, along with four star freshman Trenell Troutman.

At this point the starters will likely be Dee Smith and Khane Pass, at least until TreSean Smith is able to return from his injury that was suffered in the bowl game against Mississippi State. The secondary was one of the weakest spots on the Louisville defense last season, so getting the right unit will be key for VanGorder.

Competition will also be stiff at the linebacker spot for the Cards, as they will only return one starter from last season, that being true sophomore Dorian Etheridge. As mentioned before, Robert Hicks, a four star freshman out of Florida, should step into a starting spot from day one.

At the edge rush spot, Jon Greenard will take over for Trevon Young, while the other spot will likely come down to Tabarius Peterson and South Carolina transfer Booise Whitlow. Also returning to the Cards will be sophomore CJ Avery, senior London Iapoko, Kam Jones, and redshirt freshman PJ Blue, who will all compete for snaps at the will linebacker position.

Next: Depth Chart Preview: RB's

The offseason leading up to fall camp opening will be fun to watch as more and more speculation tees up talk about potential starters, and how the defense might look next season under BVG.

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