So, I thought it would be fun to have a thread for the position groups, especially throughout spring ball and fall camp. That way the talk can be a little more focused. I want to do one of these for each group, but I have lost a lot of desire for this type of stuff the last year or two. We will see how it goes.
Anyhow, Linebackers. LB is a weird position, because our front look is so varied. Last year we started the year running a lot of 5 man front, we traditionally run a lot of 4 man front, but we ended the year running a lot of 3-3 fronts. So, we can have between 1-3 LB'ers depending on the situation.
What I do like is the versatility we have at the LB position. Look at the players who can play multiple positions (either safety or DE): Chase Hanse, Chris Hart, Bryant Pirtle, Sione Lund. That gives you some versatility (although we don't know if Lund can play this year).
Players lost: Luafatasaga, Tauteoli, Whittingham, Drews
Players gained: Chase Hansen, Chris Hart, Sione Lund, Andrew Mata'afa, Bryant Pirtle, Francis Bernard
Players returning: Moroni Anae, Cody Barton, Zach Boesen, Peter Brown, Rylee Gautavai, Karsen Liljenquist, Devin Lloyd, Ali'i Nuimatalolo, Donovan Thompson
Projected Starters:
1 LB: Francis Bernard
2 LB: Chase Hansen, Francis Bernard
3 LB: Francis Bernard, Chase Hansen, Donovan Thompson/Cody Barton
So, we have three at the top: Hansen, Barton, Thompson.
The next three LB'ers would be...who the heck knows. Here is what is crazy. We have some serious TALENT at the LB position: Barton, Lund, Pirtle, Lloyd, Hart, Mata'afa.
Our LB spot has become stacked. We are deep there. That is crazy. Just two seasons ago people were lamenting how thin/bad our LB'ers would be. Now, it is a position of strength.
This is one position where spring ball should be HUGE. Here will be a GREAT opportunity for the second stringers to really make a name for themselves. Chase Hansen will play little to none. Cody Barton will be limited as well. Bernard won't be here until the fall. There is no reason for either to play and risk injury.
That means there were be lots and lots of reps for younger players to make a name for themselves.
This is also a huge lost opportunity for Pirtle. Him not being here for spring is rough. That being said, we are so deep at LB, it wouldn't shock me if he plays a lot at DE, especially early and on passing downs.
I'm not sure if Mata'afa will be here for spring, but he is a four star kid with great bloodlines. It wouldn't shock me if he found himself getting situational play this fall. Sione Lund is another guy with all the potential in the world. But, he is another guy that may or may not be able to play this year (and in a lot of ways, him taking a year might not be a bad thing. Sometimes time is what you need to take the next step).
Spring will also be huge for Chris Hart, Lloyd, Nuimatalolo and Liljenquist. Hart has been at DE his first three years in the program. Rushing the passer is his strength. Lloyd looked like a man his first year on campus. Would be exciting to see if he has taken any steps forward. Nuimatalolo and Liljenquist need to show if they will be defensive players or special teams players.
Our LB'ers are really exciting at this point. That being said, we are a long ways from August 30 and Weber State. Hansen could move back to S, Bernard/Pirtle could not make it to campus, Lund could not get permission to play, and an injury could really shake up this group.
BUT, if things play out how all is hoped, Hansen and Bernard are NFL prospects. Mata'afa, Lund, and Pirtle have NFL potential. Thompson is a Gionni Paul clone. Our LB'ers could be loaded front to back.
