Louisville fans’ biggest defensive question finally answered as depth chart drops

Louisville football fans are eager to watch their Week 4 matchup for multiple reasons, but one of the top storylines is that star linebacker Stanquan Clark is out. The linebacker recently had lower-body surgery and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, most likely, per Jeff Brohm, earlier in the week.

So, now with Clark out for an extended period of time or the season, the Cardinals must turn to a new face to step up and accept a bigger role. Louisville fans have been wondering if it was going to be Kalib Perry or TJ Capers to earn the Week 4 start, and now that the Cardinals released their depth chart, the fans finally have their answer.

Related: 3 Louisville Cardinals who must earn more snaps after Stanquan Clark's injury update

Kalib Perry gets the start at MLB

Louisville fans were hoping the former 5-star linebacker would start his first collegiate game, but that still has to wait as the Tennessee transfer gets the nod to replace Clark.

Perry was a 3-star transfer that Jeff Brohm added this past Transfer Portal from Tennessee. He was ranked as the No. 13 best linebacker in the Transfer Portal after he logged 436 defensive snaps in the past two seasons with the Volunteers.

The new starting linebacker for Mark Ivey earned some high praise this offseason in fall camp, just weeks before the season. Now, with the Cardinals' star linebacker out for an extended period of time, Louisville is turning to Perry to be the starter, at least for this week's showdown with Bowling Green.

The 6-foot-3, 231-pound linebacker earned a total of 61 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two blocked punts, and one forced fumble with Tennessee, and his best season came in 2024 when he secured 26 total tackles, 11 solo tackles, and one forced fumble.

Perry has some elite experience since he played in the SEC, and his best game happened to come against the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Florida Gators, where he logged 4.0 tackles and 1.0 tackles for a loss against Alabama, and against Florida is one of the games in which he forced a fumble.

Capers is still listed as TJ Quinn's backup, and it will be worth watching if they move him around at all or if he stays put there. The former 5-star stated he wants a bigger role, and fans thought now was his time to shine. He will still get more snaps, but it appears he will still play the backup role as of now.

Related: 3 Louisville football players who must step up after Stanquan Clark's injury update

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