Steve Jones

@stevejones_cj

This time last year, DeVonte Fields was throwing up.

The five-star junior-college transfer and former Texas Christian standout reported to the University of Louisville the day before training camp in 2015, and though he thought the running and weight-lifting that he'd done on his own that summer had him ready for his return to major college football practice, he was wrong.

"Last year, that first day wasn't a good day for me," Fields said Saturday at U of L's media day. "... Probably by the end of warm-ups during individual (drills), I threw up. This year, I'm good. No throwing up, nothing."

In 2016, the Cardinals' All-America candidate at outside linebacker is in top form from Day 1, and it could be a scary proposition for opponents.

U of L is hopeful that his participation for the first time this summer in the team's organized conditioning program, plus his motivation to excel as a senior on and off the field will have Fields performing all this season like he did for the second half of last year.

"I'll be able to hit the ground running for sure this year," Fields said. "No problem, no question about that."

Though he admitted that his conditioning and limited knowledge of U of L's playbook limited his production during the first couple games of 2015, Fields still wound up performing at an elite level.

He finished tied for second in the FBS and second all-time at U of L with 22.5 tackles for loss, 18 of which came in the final seven games. He led the nation in average tackles for loss per game (1.73), and his 11 sacks were tied for No. 11 in the country. He revealed on Saturday that those elite results came despite playing the final nine games with a torn shoulder labrum.

The late-season production, combined with his superior stamina, suggests he is poised for a big year in 2016. Fields was voted preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference and has been mentioned as a potential high 2017 NFL draft prospect. ESPN.com ranked him as the fifth-best player in the ACC.

"He became the player we felt from the middle of the year on that we thought he would be, and that was through his work and critique of himself," said defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who called Fields a student of the game. "The difference this year is he's been here the whole time, been around our guys, and his conditioning is better. He understands what we're trying to do. ... I've been pleased with him."

Fields said a turning point in his 2015 season was the sixth game against Florida State, during which FSU's Dalvin Cook broke multiple tackles during a 54-yard, highlight-reel touchdown run. Fields appeared not to be running full-speed to catch Cook around the edge.

"I had a lack of effort running to the ball," Fields said. "I watched film and didn't like what I saw. I fixed the problems, pretty much got my mojo back. I felt good playing again. ... (Rewatching Cook's long run), I thought the same thing everybody else was thinking about. I saw all the (social) media notifications. (The play) was trash. I didn't do good, and now it's fixed."

In the weeks that followed, Fields said, he hit his stride mentally and physically and was feeling comfortable in a way he hadn't since he recorded 10 sacks in 2012 as a freshman at TCU.

"That's the guy I know I will be because that's the guy I am," he said. "That's how I play, so that's how I know I'm going to come out this year."

Fields was among four U of L defensive players to turn down a shot at the NFL draft after last season. Their return helped the Cards earn the No. 23 ranking in the preseason coaches' poll.

Fields said he didn't give much consideration to going pro.

For one, he was recovering from the surgery on his shoulder that would have hindered his performance in any NFL workouts before the draft. But more importantly, he said, he was determined to get his bachelor's degree in criminal justice - he's attempting to graduate in December - and he wanted play another year for an experienced U of L team that he believes "could be something awesome."

In addition, he wanted to add to his record an entire year of consistent production on the field while having no problems off it.

Fields, who was dismissed from TCU in the summer of 2014 after allegations of domestic violence, said he doubts he would have been drafted in 2016 if he'd come out.

"Probably not, just because of past history and that I didn't really start off the season how I finished it," he said. "All that played a factor in everything. ... I feel like I had to put a better year out. ... Another good year of no trouble off the field and do a good year on the field, and I'll be good."

Fields said he expects questions about his dismissal from TCU to come up when he interviews with NFL teams next spring, and when he's asked, he said, "I'll own up to my mistakes" and explain that he's moved on. His legal case was dropped before he came to U of L last year.

"That's in the past. I'm moving forward," he said. "I'm in better shape with a good team, so I can't complain. I don't think about the days at TCU. Those days are over with. I'm in a better position now, so I'm moving forward."