By Matt Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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The names will be different, but the Louisville defense still should be one of the ACC’s best in 2015.

Returning just four starters from a defense which finished sixth in the nation in total defense in 2014, the Louisville Cardinals, upon initial glance, may appear to be on the brink of a significant drop in production on that side of the football.

In the face of a multitude of departures, the good news for the Louisville defense in 2015 comes in the form of a handful of transfers who should provide immediate and significant impacts.

When Todd Grantham was hired by Bobby Petrino as Louisville defensive coordinator prior to the start of the 2014 season, it immediately paved the way for the Cardinals to get their foot in the door with outgoing Georgia defensive backs Shaq Wiggins and Josh Harvey-Clemons.

Wiggins appeared in 12 games and made eight starts as a freshman for the Bulldogs in 2013, finishing as the team leader in interceptions. He showed flashes of having the potential to become a lockdown corner at the collegiate level, but he ultimate left Athens so that he could get a fresh start at another program. Wiggins is currently slated to be one of Louisville’s starters at cornerback this fall.

Much like his fellow ex-Georgia teammate, Harvey-Clemons is currently listed atop the depth chart at his position heading into the summer. A former five-star recruit, Harvey-Clemons started all 11 games in which he played during his last season at Georgia. He is widely considered to be one of the most talented and athletic safeties in the country.

While Wiggins and Harvey-Clemons will undoubtedly add stability to the Cardinals’ secondary, ex-TCU defensive end Devonte Fields should be an impact player in the trenches.

Although he played just one full season at TCU, Fields was named as the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year following the 2012 season, registering an impressive 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He was voted as the preseason Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12 prior to the 2014 campaign before ultimately leaving the school following allegations of assault.

It initially appeared as though Fields’ ability to play for the Cardinals in 2015 was in jeopardy, but the recent dismissal of the charges against him paved the way for him to contribute this fall following a season at Trinity Valley Community College.

The Cardinals will certainly still have to make some adjustments on the defensive side of the football, but things are undoubtedly not as uncertain as their lack of returning starters would indicate.

The names will be different, but the Louisville defense still should be one of the ACC’s best in 2015.