Gardner offers added spark for U of L offense

For a team that struggled to come to terms with a gut-wrenching loss at Clemson, things might be looking up for the University of Louisville football team when it takes on NC State on Saturday.

U of L enters Saturday's 3:30 p.m. game at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium with the chance to have all of its expected starters from the beginning of the season on the field together for the first time this year.

Jermaine Reve, who was expected to start at safety, is back in the fold after an April knee injury kept him out of the first six games. He played at Clemson.

Will Gardner is healthy and back in the starting lineup at quarterback after missing the past two-plus games with a knee injury and playing a backup role at Clemson.

And the biggest fish, star receiver DeVante Parker, practiced in full this week and gave U of L coach Bobby Petrino cautious confidence that he could play against NC State.

Parker's return would be a boost for a Louisville offense that's still finding its way eight weeks into the season. It would also add to the momentum that Petrino said the Cardinals (5-2) have had this week.

"I'm impressed with our players," Petrino said. "It was a tough loss. They came back with a good attitude and worked hard."

With NC State struggling and Louisville's starters possibly returning, Saturday's homecoming game is set up to help Louisville progress on offense, particularly the passing game.

North Carolina State (4-3) has lost three consecutive games and will play without its leading tackler and a starting safety. Linebacker Jerod Fernandez and safety Josh Jones were among the seven NC State players suspended this week for their involvement in a BB gun incident.

Even with those two players, the Wolfpack's opponents averaged more than 400 yards of offense in their first seven games. NC State ranks 13th among the ACC's 14 teams in scoring and total defense, 12th in rushing defense and 10th in passing defense.

As of now, statistically, NC State is the worst FBS defense Louisville will face this season. The Wolfpack rank the lowest among Louisville's 11 FBS opponents in scoring, total and rushing defense.

"We're not out of position – we're just not making plays," NC State coach Dave Doeren said earlier this week.

Petrino said Thursday that he reinserted Gardner in the starting lineup because of his downfield passing ability.

With freshman Reggie Bonnafon at quarterback for most of Saturday's game, Clemson bunched as many as eight or nine defenders up to the line of scrimmage to stop the run, showing no fear of Bonnafon's arm.

Gardner, Petrino explained on Monday, was hitting a groove before his knee injury at FIU on Sept. 20. His timing was better. His releases were quicker. His decisions were smarter.

The redshirt sophomore had struggled through the early part of the season with batted-down passes, low pass-release points and happy feet in the pocket.

In his relief appearance at Clemson, Gardner looked like the in-the-groove quarterback that Petrino described, completing 10 of 16 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown.

"A lot of it's just the timing," Petrino said. "The biggest difference for Will and Reggie is that you have to throw the ball before guys are open … That's what we're really working on.

"There's going to be tight coverage. You have to be able to put the ball on his left ear or his right shoulder and throw the receiver open."

Louisville's timing and efficiency on offense would get an immediate boost if Parker does play, and his presence would help Gardner ease back in the starting job.

That full-strength offense is something the Cardinals have waited for all season. There's a chance that Saturday will be its first appearance this year.

Reach U of L beat writer Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter (@jeffgreer_cj).