2025 Louisville Football Preview: Linebackers

The linebacker group gets a full preview in this one, as we continue our breakdown of the 2025 Louisville football team.

Also, check out our previous position breakdowns for 2025, as well as a rundown of our full schedule leading up to the season opener:

• Special teams (released July 21st: link)
• Offensive line (released July 28th: link)
• Defensive line (released August 4th: link)
• Secondary (released August 11th: link)
• Receivers (WR / TE) (released August 18th: link)
• Running Backs (released August 22nd: link)
• Quarterbacks (releasing August 25th)

Last Year’s Results

Louisville’s defense took a step back from 2023’s squad, largely due to their issues with pass coverage. The Cardinals finished 64th in the FBS in total defense (368.7), a substantial drop from being 21st in that category the year prior. They were solid in defending the run (132.5 rushing YPG allowed, 40th in FBS), but 100th in passing yards allowed (236.2).

The Cardinals were solid as a havoc team, logging 34 sacks (T-32nd in FBS) and 87 tackles for loss (T-27th). Although Louisville struggled with forcing turnovers at times, they were able to finish positive in the margin, going +6 in 2024 (T-35th).

T.J. Quinn and Stanquan Clark led Louisville in tackles (82 and 76, respectively), with Quinn also having four TFLs, 1.5 sacks and a blocked kick. Clark had a very productive season, with 7.5 TFLs and two interceptions and forced fumbles apiece. Antonio Watts also had a quietly solid season, with 51 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, four PBUs and a forced fumble.

Position Breakdown: Linebacker

Louisville only loses two contributors from last year’s linebacker group (Dan Foster, Jr. and Jurriente Davis), so very little guesswork is needed on projecting the starters. Stanquan Clark, T.J. Quinn, and Antonio Watts are all returning and will be starting for Louisville at each linebacker spot. Add in a returning T.J. Capers and incoming Kalib Perry for depth, and the Cardinals suddenly have an experienced, talented linebacker group to lead the defense.

Clark is one of the best players on Louisville’s defense heading into the season, and should be in contention for all-conference honors in 2025. He’s a do-it-all, instinctive linebacker that can play both the run and the pass equally well, and he is a playmaker as far as creating turnovers. He was also named on the watch list for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker.

Quinn is a seasoned veteran and returns at MLB to lead the defense. He’s also an excellent run stopper and has led Louisville in tackles each of the last two seasons (92 in 2023, 82 in 2024). Watts has gradually gotten better each year, and as a safety/linebacker hybrid in the defense, he’s a well-rounded linebacker as well. Watts could be a potential breakout candidate if he — or Quinn, for that matter — can improve as pass coverage linebackers.

Louisville also has two key reserves with Capers and Perry. Capers gives the team a potentially high upside player, as one of Louisville’s highest-rated commits in program history. He has played sporadically in his first two seasons, but has the versatility to play either at weak side linebacker or as a middle / mike linebacker, so he should see the field at either spot in my opinion. Capers looked pretty solid in spring ball and he should be able to translate it into a solid 2025 campaign.

Perry was Louisville’s lone transfer portal acquisition at linebacker, coming from Tennessee where he played as a reserve for the Volunteers (26 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, FF in 2024). Perry has pretty solid pass coverage skills and can make plays, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see him appear in passing downs as a ‘specialist’ of sorts.

Projected Starters: Stanquan Clark, T.J. Quinn, Antonio Watts (STAR)

Key Reserves: T.J. Capers, Kalib Perry