All this week Husker Corner.com will be breaking down each position in the Big 10 Conference. Today we talk linebackers. We will be ranking each position from 12 to 1. Twelve being the group that is lacking depth, doesn’t have any proven player, and/or needs to improve the most. One will be the strongest group of linebackers
12. Indiana: It’s very close between the bottom 3 schools, with the lack of depth at the linebacker position. The Hoosiers will need a lot of young players to play, and play well. Aside from senior Jeff Thomas, there really is no depth. Thomas is a fifth year senior out of Foothill Community College. He will be the centerpiece of the defense, and maybe the Hoosiers best defender. The only other noteable player other than Thomas is fellow senior Leon Beckum, who is very undersized at 5-foot-11, but will see significant playing time over a handful of freshmen.
11. Northwestern: If senior Bryce McNaul can come back at 100% from shoulder injury, Northwestern wont be in too bad of a shape, but Nate Williams and Quentin Davie are gone and will be hard to replace. Senior Ben Johnson, who has had an interception in each of the last two seasons, and junior David Nwabuisi will look to fill those voids.
10: Illinois: Martez Wilson and Nate Bussey are gone to the NFL . The only reason the Illini rank higher than Northwestern and Indiana, is because of the strong springs recorded by sophomores Jonathan Brown and Houston Bates. Senior Ian Thomas will lead the group. Thomas had 27 tackles last season, 6.5 for loss.
9. Michigan: When Rich Rodriguez came to Michigan, he had less scholarship players on defense than any other Big 10 schools. Now that first year Michigan man, Brady Hoke takes over, the cabinet is a little more full. Hard hitting, redshirt sophomore Cameron Gordon moves from safety to linebacker. Kenny Demens finished last season with 82 tackles in the middle of the defense last season. Sophomore Craig Roh had 43 tackles as a sophomore in 2010.
8. Purdue: Senior Joe Holland has started 35 games in his career. He had 73 total tackes, 48 of them solo tackles, and 7.5 tackles for loss in 2010. Chris Carlino is a senior as well, but only recorded 15 tackles a year ago. Junior Dawyne Beckfod looks to be a possible big time play-maker for the Boilermakers
7. Iowa: Leading tackler from Jeremiha Hunter will be missed dearly, but the cupboards in Iowa City, are far from bare. Senior Tyler Nielsen returns from injury, but didn’t blow people away before leaving. Look for sophomore-to-be, James Morris to contend for All-Big 10 honors in 2011. As a freshman Morris recorded 70 tackles and only got better as the season went on. The Hawkeyes have a lot of fresh, new faces behind those two, and need them to step up big.
6. Michigan State: Replacing 2 time All-American Greg Jones is virtually impossible. Replacing him and fellow 4 year starter Eric Gordin, is actually impossible. Combined the two started 95 games. The Spartans will try to replace them with Denicos Allen, and TyQuan Hammock. Both had huge springs. The lone returning starter from 2010 is Chris Norman, he recorded 59 tackles, 6 sacks and one interception last season.
5. Minnesota : The Gophers return a lot experience, and depth. All three starters return for new defensive coordinator Tracy Claseys. Gary Tinsley led the team in tackles in 2010 with 90. Juniors Keanon Cooper and Mike Rallis will fill the other two linebacker spots. Rallis finished the season with 37 tackles, and 3 interceptions. Cooper has played in every game since his redshirt freshman season in 2009. He recorded 68 tackles and forced a fumble in 2010. Add Florida transfer Brandon Beal, this group could be exciting.
4. Wisconsin: This ranking was based on the health of all-world linebacker Chris Borland. He excited Badger fans as a true freshman in 2009, winning the Big 1o Freshman of the Year Award. He was injured for the majority of the 2010 season. He has all the makings to be an All-Big 10 linebacker. He sat out all of spring with a shoulder injury. If he can return to his freshman form in 2011, he will be the anchor of the Badger defense. Junior Mike Taylor finished with 57 tackles, a sack and two interceptions in 2010.
3. Ohio State: Ohio State lost their leading tackler from 2010, but still seem loaded at linebacker. Andrew Sweat is a 6-foot-2, 240 lb senior from Washington, Pennsylvania. He looks to take over as the leader of the linebackers for the Buckeyes. He recorded 41 tackles, forced a fumble and had one interception in 2010. After him there is a lot talent, but even more youth. With the depth at linebacker last season Etienne Sabino took a redshirt. The junior- to-be only recorded 9 tackles in 2009, but he had a monster spring. Curtis Grant was among one of the highest recruited players in the country in 2011. He is a 6-foot-4, 220 lb Richmond, Virginia native, who has the ability to come in and play early, and be a play maker.
2. Nebraska: If this were based on just one player, Nebraska would be 1, and Indiana would not be 12. These rankings are based on the group. As a group Nebraska isn’t the best, nor do they have the most depth, but 6-foot-2, 22o lb senior Lavonte David makes this group good enough to be the number 2 ranked linebacker core. David is considered by some to be the best linebacker in the conference, and maybe the country. He led the Big Twelve in tackles last season with 152. Which set an All-Time School record at Nebraska for tackles in a season. He had 8 games where he recorded double digit tackles. He was named to several All-American teams at the end of the season, and is considered to be a preseason All-American by most. After David there is a bit of a drop off. Will Compton, Sean Fisher and Matthew May all sat out a major part of 2010 with injury. All three will return in 2011 and will compete for the spot next to David. Incoming freshman David Santos could contend for playing time early.
1. Penn State: The Nittany Lions return only one starter from 2010, but have a lot of talent and depth. Senior Nate Stupar led the team in tackles last season with 73 tackles, 2 sacks and one interception. Senior Michael Mauti will return from injury and will be a contender for All-Big 10 honors. True sophomore Khairi Fortt has the potential and play making abilities to contend for All-American honors some day. Fort and fellow sophomore Gerald Hodges have a chance to be the best linebacker tandem in the country some day. “Linebacker U” is back and hitting as hard as ever.
-By Jimmie Allen