U of L's Bobby Petrino previews football camp

Football practice starts this morning, and new University of Louisville coach Bobby Petrino sounded pleased on Monday with where his team stands.

After an eight-month buildup full of media days, public appearances, spring practices and summer workouts, Louisville begins the 2014 season with two open-to-the-public practices.

The 8:50 a.m. workout is for the team's newcomers, and U of L's veterans will practice at 4:20 p.m. Both sessions will be on the practice fields adjacent to the Trager Center and across the north parking lot from Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

The team held "report day" Monday, the official start of August camp intended to register every player who's arrived on campus and enrolled at the university. It was a pleasant start to Petrino's first preseason camp at Louisville since 2006, he said.

"We're healthy and ready to go," Petrino said. "I'm really excited to see our players come off a really good testing week."

Last week's run of physical and conditioning tests included three lifts — bench press, squat and clean — and vertical- and broad-jumping work. There were no 40-yard sprints, Petrino said, because the staff wanted to limit the potential for hamstring injuries.

The split-squad practices will run through the first four days, giving Petrino and his staff more in-depth looks at U of L's newest players before the team scrimmage at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

"It's a great evaluation chance for the new guys," Petrino said. "You really get to spend four days working on technique and fundamentals. They get more reps instead of standing around and watching."

U of L did get some good news this weekend: Junior-college transfers James Sample and Pio Vatuvei arrived on campus. Former four-star high school prospect Tyler Bruggman, a quarterback who spent the 2013 season as a backup at Washington State, also arrived in Louisville.

Sample, who played for Washington in 2012, is expected to compete for time at safety, U of L's weakest position heading into the season.

Vatuvei is listed as one of five defensive ends on the depth chart and, like Sample, is a key depth addition on Louisville's defense, which lost all but four starters from last year's unit.

"They've got some catching up to do," Petrino said. "They're going to have to be quick learners. We expect them to help us."

Petrino confirmed that three-star safety signee Michael Johnson, one of the key parts of U of L's 2014 class, did not qualify and won't enroll at Louisville.

He also said Jermaine Reve, a redshirt junior who moved from cornerback to safety in the spring, will miss the season as he recovers from knee surgery in early April.

As of now, Petrino said, the Cardinals' other injuries concerns have dissipated.

Running backs Corvin Lamb and Brandon Radcliff are fully healthy and ready for August practice. Safety Terrence Ross is 100 percent, as is linebacker Keith Brown, who missed the majority of last season with a knee injury.

While Ross and Sample will help at safety, Petrino reiterated on Monday his intention to move cornerback Terell Floyd to safety.

Floyd, a Port St. Lucie, Fla., native who started 26 games at cornerback for U of L, will play free safety and nickel back in Louisville's new 3-4 defensive scheme.

"It's really hard to move a guy who's been a starter and has done a great job there, but we feel like he'll really give us some leadership on the back end," Petrino said. "That'll really solidify our secondary."

Senior Andrew Johnson, sophomore Kevin Houchins and freshmen Zykiesis Cannon, De'Eric Culver and Trumaine Washington will compete for the playing time left behind by Floyd.

On the offensive side of the ball, the main competition comes on the offensive line, where two spots are likely up for grabs.

Senior Jake Smith, an all-conference selection at center last fall, said he'll start practice in that spot but could move back to guard if the staff asked him. He worked at right guard in the spring with several linemen recovering from injuries.

"This is where championships are won," he said. "Camp is really when you separate yourself."

Reach Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter (@jeffgreer_CJ).

Today's open practices

• 8:50 a.m. for new players; 4:20 p.m. for veterans.

• At practice fields adjacent to the Trager Center.