Can anyone tell me why we are struggling to recruit linebackers?  The opportunity is there to walk in & possibly start.

I think that everyone is freaking out a little too much about the linebacker situation. I understand that losing out on Rolin sucked and we are losing our 2 deep. There is good news though, last year we signed 2 LBs and this spring we are moving Kelvin Rainey back to LB were a lot of top schools were recruiting him to play. This year we already have 3 commits at LB with another possible 2 to commit. Yes the LBs will be young and inexperienced, but we have great coaching and I am not as worried as everyone else seems to be. We will be just fine.

Include me among those worried.  We're losing 3 starting LBs and 1 Spur so there's little doubt that teams are going to challenge us in the middle right away.  Without any significant experience returning we will likely struggle here next season.  Cedrick Cooper is also out until Fall practice so he won't be able to get any valuable reps in the Spring.


I'm more frustrated in the fact that we even have a depth problem at LB.  It seemed like EJ never put an emphasis on recruiting LBs when he was here, and now we're suffering because we have little experienced depth.  It also seems like we have a problem signing more highly ranked LBs here for some reason which seems odd considering our success on the field the past 4-5 years.

Our scheme

I agree with those worried! Being in the top 10 for the best defense in the nation you would think that getting LB's would be alot earier than it's been. I'm guessing there's been alot of trash talking against us by a coach who seems dead set on taking as many recruits from us that he can along with our DL coach! I hope I'm wrong, but wouldn't be surprised one bit!

Who cares if the LBs aren't highly ranked. Out of our LB 2 deep this past year only 1 was a 4 star and he was the least effective. Shaq Wilson who was our best LB came in as a 3 star and look how he turned out. Once these young men step onto campus, our coaches get a hold of them and turn them into football players.

Cocky87 wrote: Who cares if the LBs aren't highly ranked. Out of our LB 2 deep this past year only 1 was a 4 star and he was the least effective. Shaq Wilson who was our best LB came in as a 3 star and look how he turned out. Once these young men step onto campus, our coaches get a hold of them and turn them into football players.

I agree. And in some cases, they were football players when they got here and our coaches did a better job evaluating them than other programs.

I know our coaches can coach them up, but it just baffles me that we have always struggled to bring in big time linebackers on a consistent basis. Right now, it seems that we generate interest, but haven't been able to close the deal. That in itself surprises me due to the talent at the other positions & available playing time.
I was wondering if anyone knew why we have struggled recruiting this position. Again, our coaches do a great job of making top notch players -see DJ Swearinger, Shaq, Eric Norwood, & etc.

Dont be deceivedy recruiting publicity. The most publicity I have seen a linebacker recruit get recently was Ricardo Hurley. Where is he now? He made 1 big play I can remember knocking out Danny Ware and for that I am forever grateful but think about Jasper Brinkley, Eric Norwood, Shaq Wilson, DJ Swearinger, Rodney Paulk, Reggie Bowens, Tony Straughter and others. None of them had the publicity coming in that Hurley had. We also had a guy come in from up around Sumter who is so low profile, I can't pull his name out, early 2000s, still he played several years at Seattle in the NFL when he finished 4 years here. Give me a couple of Lindsay twins or Brinkley twins or another Shaq Wilson anyday.

They come and they go, now we have two more potential LB's visiting from FL. Eventually we will get one.

"Give me a couple of Lindsay twins or Brinkley twins or another Shaq Wilson anyday."


Brinkley twins and Shaq Wilson definitely but not the Lindsey twins.  Our current staff wouldn't have offered them IMO.