LB Preview

Globetrotter · Post by **Globetrotter** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:15 pm

LB Preview.....

The meat of the LB corps will be Senior Terrell White. He returns after leading the team in tackles in 2005 and will have to be the rock of an incredibly young Linebacking group. The other two spots are likely in the hands of Erique Dozier (SLB) and Cody Basler (MLB)...I say likely because they should be pushed mightily by a trio of freshmen and a sophomore who was the second leading returning tackler at LB. Dozier is undersized but active on the outside. He is just a sophomore and could really be something if he could add some weight. He is not even 200 lbs right now, meaning we would have to keep him away from playing behind Briggs as much as possible. Basler is a redshirt freshman who has impressed and is the biggest of the projected starters 6-3 225. On Baslers heels is John Haneline, a 223 sophomore Legacy who will likely contribute more than his 26 tackles last year before he is gone. Nick Lawrence was a top recruit several years ago but fell into a little bit of trouble before he could make ti to BG. He is now here and ready to play as a Redhsirt Freshman. Two stars of this recruiting class could see time right away in Brandon Jackson and Eugene Fells. I would not be surprised to see Fells or Jackson in the middle come week 1. Regardless of whether he starts or not get to know the Freshman class of LBs.

CFN:Projected Starters
- Erique Dozier, Soph. - 19 tackles, 3 TFL
More of a safety than a linebacker at 6-1 and 198 pounds, Dozier had a decent season as a reserve and needs to be a major factor right away replacing Teddy Piepkow on the outside. He'll be used as a key pass rusher and he should be more of a factor against the pass.

- Cody Basler, RFr.
A good scout teamer last year, the 225-pound Basler is in a battle with John Haneline for the starting job and will have to fight off true freshmen coming in this fall. He's a rangy, tough tackler who's more than strong enough to handle the work in the middle. Consistency will be his key to keeping the job.

- Terrel White, Sr. - 100 tackles, 3 sacks, 9 TFL, 5 broken up passes
White went from being a good backup to the team's leading tackler able to play either outside position. The only returning starter to the linebacking corps, he has to be one of the defense's top leaders and a steady all-around performer again. He's 224 pounds and is always around the ball making plays, but he's not a special athlete and he's not quite good enough carry the entire corps.

Top Backups
- Jon Jakubowski, Sr. - 20 tackles 6-1 225 (He was a DB??)
Jakubowski has been a nice reserve over the last few years as both a defensive back and a linebacker. He can run and he has bulked up enough getting to 221 pounds to get more work on the strongside.
- John Haneline, Soph. - 26 tackles, 1 interception 6-2 223
A bit banged up throughout spring, the 225-pound sophomore is neck-and-neck with Cody Basler for the starting job on the inside. He's a good tackler who can get into the backfield, but he's not a special athlete."

The True Frosh expected to contribute:
Eugene Fells 6-1 209 Fr.
Brandon Jackson 6-2 220 Fr.

Others:
Nick Lawrence 6-3 200 Fr
Scott Goodwin 6-3 227 So 1 tackle
Adrian Baker 6-3 216 So
Nate Waldron 5-11 192 So 8 tackles
Will Myles 5-11 204 Sr
Jarrod Wells 6-1 220 So.
Kyle Cutler 6-1 225 LS 6 Jr. tackles
Angelo Magnone 6-3 218 Fr-True Frosh who will likely be redshirted. I beleive where I read he was the Div III D player of the year in Ohio......Great young LB group. Could we move to a 3-4? Is that basically what we are playing with Briggs and an undersized Williams?

Globetrotter · Post by **Globetrotter** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:26 pm

The Future.....

LB Preview.....

White will be adios......But 4-6 guys should have enough experience to battle for the three starting spots. What is amazing is that I could easily see a scenario where 4-6 on my list aree the actual starters.

CFN:Projected Starters
- Erique Dozier, Jr. 6-1 198
- Cody Basler, So 6-3 225
- Brandon Jackson 6-2 220 so.

The backups.
- John Haneline, Jr. 6-2 223
- Eugene Fells 6-1 209 so.
- Nick Lawrence 6-3 200 so
Scott Goodwin 6-3 227 Jr
Adrian Baker 6-3 216 Jr
Nate Waldron 5-11 192 Jr
Jarrod Wells 6-1 220 Jr.
Kyle Cutler 6-1 225 LS 6 sr.
Angelo Magnone 6-3 218 Fr

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 9:17 am

This linked Blade article from Maureen on the linebacking corps fits very nicely here.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /608080361

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:51 am

Maureen rocks!

JoeFalcon · Post by **JoeFalcon** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:55 am

The last outstanding BG defense was in 2001 with the linebacker unit consisting of a tough guy named Haneline in the middle and two fast, athletic outside backers flanking him.

Hummmmm...

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:09 am

Good article on T White. We really need his leadership out there this season.

GO FALCONS!