Devonte Fields Will Be Incredibly Dangerous with 2nd Chance at Louisville

Potential was never an issue for former TCU defensive end Devonte Fields. People believed in him. They still do. 

This was a player voted as the 2014 Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by the media—after he played in only three games in 2013 because of injury. Preseason awards are always hype-driven, but that instance was especially obvious. 

This is also a player that has had one exceptional season at the highest level in college football in three years. 

However, Fields will have another chance to realize his potential at Louisville, where he's expected to sign this week on national signing day. He'll have two years of eligibility remaining. 

"

Committed to the university of Louisville! L'zup! Haters/Doubters this for you! #Blessed pic.twitter.com/VYVIAIB14k

— DeVonte' Fields (@Yaboiphilly95) February 1, 2015"

This is a marriage that could have two outstanding years ahead of it. Football—life, really—is full of second (and third, and fourth) chances for talented people. And Fields is undeniably gifted. 

When Fields is playing, he's a force. Fields recorded 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a true freshman in 2012 and was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Last season at Trinity Valley, Fields had 61 tackles and 6.5 sacks. 

Fields should fit right in with Louisville's defensive front seven, which loses edge-rushers Lorenzo Mauldin and Deiontrez Mount. Both were seniors, according to ourlads.com. Combined, Mauldin and Mount had 11.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. 

Nell Redmond/Associated Press

But production wasn't limited to just those two. Under Grantham, Louisville finished third in the ACC with 3.15 sacks per game and fifth in tackles for loss. Four different players finished with at least 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. 

Now, the Cardinals have a dynamic playmaker in Fields who will only make the defense's pass rush more formidable. 

This could also be a good personality fit for Fields. Petrino and Grantham are both intense guys. Petrino specifically is notoriously strict in how he runs his program. That kind of atmosphere might be what Fields needs to maximize his ability, both on and off the field. 

Fields and Louisville both have caught grief for the decision. The program has developed a reputation, fair or not, as the landing spot for troubled players—notably Auburn's Michael Dyer.

Bringing in Fields is the classic high-risk, high-reward scenario. Certainly, the off-the-field issues are noteworthy. Fields was dismissed from TCU in 2014 following allegations that he assaulted his ex-girlfriend. Fields was also suspended for two games in 2013 for a "violation of university and team policy." 

Eric Crawford of WDRB.com explains the messages that Louisville is sending by bringing on Fields: 

"

I don't know Fields. He might be personable and great to be around. He might be a misguided kid who got into a bad situation and made a horrible decision in a moment of anger. I'm sure there will be a defense of signing him, and it will sound reasonable, and many people will accept it.

Here's what I accept.

There are two kinds of football programs: Those who stand against domestic violence, and those who help perpetuate the problem by being part of the safety net, the net that says no matter what you do, someone, somewhere will give you another chance, if you have enough football potential.

"

But Fields, Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham can't, and won't, take that criticism too personally. Petrino and Grantham, in theory, should have a better grasp on Fields than anyone. 

To Fields' credit, he kept a low profile in his brief stint in junior college. That should give Petrino confidence that Fields has turned things around and will continue to keep his nose clean. It also should help Fields' draft stock down the road. 

"My [stock] is probably down since the Ray Rice situation," Fields told Thayer Evans and Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated in September. "It probably dropped me a little bit.”"

A year at Louisville should change that. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.