Depth Chart Watch 2012 (Will Linebacker)

For the next 7 days HuskerCorner.com will be bringing you an in-depth look at each position for the 2012 season. We will break down  who we think is the front runner for the starting position, the player on the front runner’s heels  for the starting spot and a freshman who could make a splash.

Nebraska’s linebacker depth has taken a hit these last few years. The departure of Lavonte David doesn’t help things. However, Nebraska may have a new Lavonte David in newcomer Zaire Anderson. A JuCo transfer, just like David, Anderson has the potential to start right away. Will Nebraska’s complex defense be too much for the newbie?

The Front Runner

This might be a crap shoot, but Zaire Anderson looks awful good coming into Nebraska. Anderson has 187 tackles and 16 sacks in two seasons at the junior college level and enters Nebraska with three seasons to play two. The Blackshirts are in a bind at linebacker, and coaches will be desperate to find someone to stick in a starting role. There’s a tremendous chance that either Sean Fisher or Alonzo Whaley moves over from the buck position to start at will linebacker, but most of the off-season will be spent on competition at the buck for the two.

The Number One Contender/Incoming Freshman 

David Santos was one of the biggest recruits Bo Pelini and company landed in 2011. After redshirting in 2011, Santos will be ready to go in 2012. Pelini mentioned his name a few times in a Feb. 1 press conference, and from the sounds of things, Santos could see the field quite a bit in 2012. He left high school ranked among the top 15 outside linebackers in the 2011 class. Santos will be a starting linebacker for Nebraska, but his chance will more than likely come in 2013.

Other contenders are special teams standout Graham Stoddard and redshirt freshman Max Pirman, a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker. It remains to be seen how much of an impact Stoddard or Pirman can have, but it looks like a two-man race between Santos and Anderson at this point.

Depth Chart Prediction

1. Zaire Anderson

2. David Santos

3. Graham Stoddard

By Chris Peters

Contact the writer at ChrisHuskerCorner@gmail.com or on Twitter @_ChrisPeters

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