Three University of Louisville football players, led by five-star junior-college transfer and former TCU star pass rusher DeVonte Fields, were included Wednesday in the first College Football Top247 player rankings from 247Sports.com.
Fields, a junior outside linebacker, is ranked the No. 84 player in the country, ahead of U of L defensive end Sheldon Rankins at No. 144 and senior middle linebacker James Burgess at No. 225
Rankins and Burgess are All-ACC preseason selections and on the watch list for the Nagurski Award as the nation's best defensive player. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on Wednesday called them "bell cows" for U of L.
Fields, a former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year who just arrived on U of L's campus Aug. 4, is still working to get in shape and is currently running No. 2 to Keith Brown at one of Louisville's outside linebacker positions.
Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa is ranked the No. 1 player nationally by 247Sports.com, which is known primarily for its rankings of recruiting prospects. He's followed in the top five by Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright, Alabama offensive lineman Cameron Robinson, Florida State cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves. They are among 32 five-star players.
Western Kentucky quarterback Brandon Doughty, the nation's leader in passing yards and touchdowns last season, is No. 171.
U of L tight end Cole Hikutini, a junior-college transfer, and Kentucky safety A.J. Stamps were included on the long 247Sports watch list of players who are just outside the preseason Top247.
