2018 Linebackers | Syracusefan.com

2018 Linebackers

Trueblue25

Cali Award Magistrate; 2023 Cali Award Rushing Yds
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Returning contributors at the position:

Armstrong
whitner
Guthrie

Returning Scholarship Linebackers:

Richards
Shy
Trotter
Fagan

Frosh:

Juan Wallace
Williams
Tre Allison



Alright, arguably the biggest “?” On our team is the linebacker position.

Who has the ability to pick up from Bennett and be the QB of our defense?

Any captain potential with these guys? Always love a team captain in the lb core.

Do the young guys immediately take over?

Have Guthrie and Armstrong been overlooked? I like these two a lot.

Who’s gonna open up a fat can of god bless your heart on our tobacco road foes?

I want someone playing the limp leg of a nc state back like a guitar U style.

Its time we bring the boom back and make opposing offenses respect the middle and edge.

Does the board prodigal son take what is his and lay the SHmack down on bc??

Whos got it?
 
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Agree, LB is probably the biggest unknown going into preseason. We are losing a lot of experience and that will be the crucial factor. On the other hand, other than Bennett, my hope is that the productivity should be relatively "easier" to replace. I know the board assumption is that we had good, even great, LB play in 2017. I am not of that opinion.

Armstrong has game experience and will most likely start somewhere. I think - hope is probably more accurate - that the primary contributions will come from the kids we have not seen play yet, including the new kids from this class.
 
Agree, LB is probably the biggest unknown going into preseason. We are losing a lot of experience and that will be the crucial factor. On the other hand, other than Bennett, my hope is that the productivity should be relatively "easier" to replace. I know the board assumption is that we had good, even great, LB play in 2017. I am not of that opinion.

Armstrong has game experience and will most likely start somewhere. I think - hope is probably more accurate - that the primary contributions will come from the kids we have not seen play yet, including the new kids from this class.
We had good linebackers that we relied on to pick up far too much slack. By the BC game Bennett and Zaire were so fatigued and banged up you could tell each down was a struggle for them. We owe those two a special place in our memory for the beatings they took and gave out to keep the 2017 season going. Thomas too.
 
Williams Armstrong Fagen Richards Guthrie Shy are 2 deep.

My guess at starters: Richards, Armstong, Williams.
 
Armstong Williams and Fagan. Whitner, Shy and Guthrie will play some. Richards will compete for the MLB position. I just think he's a year away from locking that position up. We might have lost some experience but we will be deeper and potentially better. I feel that way because of the D line. They will make it easier for the LB's. Except for Williams, these LB's have been groomed for this system for 2 years now. That makes a big difference in the learning curve. They can just play without doing too much thinking.
 
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Armstong Williams and Fagan. Whitner, Shy and Guthrie will play some. Richards will compete for the MLB position. I just think he's a year away from locking that position up. We might have lost some experience but we will be deeper and potentially better. I feel that way because of the D line. They will make it easier for the LB's. Except for Williams, all are LB's were groomed for this system for 2 years now. That makes a big difference in the learning curve. They can just play without doing too much thinking.
Which Williams are we talking about here money?
 
Richards in my mind is the one that will surprise us. I like him cause we haven't had that size in the middle in some time now. No way fagan don't start. Ferocious hitter with speed to give slots a little fear running short routes. I'm not as high on Armstrong cause when I watched him, he was more of a wait and see guy and not a downhill guy. But he may surprise.
 
Richards in my mind is the one that will surprise us. I like him cause we haven't had that size in the middle in some time now. No way fagan don't start. Ferocious hitter with speed to give slots a little fear running short routes. I'm not as high on Armstrong cause when I watched him, he was more of a wait and see guy and not a downhill guy. But he may surprise.

Agree, like richards and Armstrong as i do fagan. Has fagan put on enough bulk? He was < 200 when he arrived on campus. I think this group will pleasantly surprise us as i thought Zaire et al got caught out of position all year. In their defense, they arent T2 backers with skills to play and cover in space.
 
Agree, like richards and Armstrong as i do fagan. Has fagan put on enough bulk? He was < 200 when he arrived on campus. I think this group will pleasantly surprise us as i thought Zaire et al got caught out of position all year. In their defense, they arent T2 backers with skills to play and cover in space.
I personally don't know if he gained weight but he has been there a bit with free well cooked food he should be up to 210 at least by now. I'm hoping he is anyways.
 
Armstong Williams and Fagan. Whitner, Shy and Guthrie will play some. Richards will compete for the MLB position. I just think he's a year away from locking that position up. We might have lost some experience but we will be deeper and potentially better. I feel that way because of the D line. They will make it easier for the LB's. Except for Williams, these LB's have been groomed for this system for 2 years now. That makes a big difference in the learning curve. They can just play without doing too much thinking.
Those were the 3 that I was thinking of too. I figured they were bringing in Williams because Richards isn't ready strength wise. He came in at only 212lbs I think @ 6'4"
 
Those were the 3 that I was thinking of too. I figured they were bringing in Williams because Richards isn't ready strength wise. He came in at only 212lbs I think @ 6'4"
yup those are my thoughts. Williams is insurance in case Richards is not ready for the middle. Armstrong is more of a strongside/field LB.
 
I want someone playing the limp leg of a nc state back like a guitar U style.
Had to look this one up. Not sure how I missed it but wow, that's so Miami.

IMG_1424.GIF
 
Andrew Armstrong
Keilan Whitner
Ryan Guthrie

Tyrell Richards
Shy Cullen
Kadeem Trotter
Nad Fagan

Juan Wallace
Lakeim Williams
Tre Allison

Coach Babers has said before he doesn't bring in JUCOs unless he thinks they can help immediately. I think Lak is definitely in the rotation, and is a likely starter. He played OLB in junior college but I know they are starting him in the middle. I think this is because the staff doesn't think the MLBs on the roster (Armstrong and Richards) are ready yet.
BTW, Lakeim was listed at 6'2 240 when he was being recruited but now that he is on the roster, he is listed at 6'0 230. He might be too small to play outside anyway.

After that, it gets pretty murky for me. Since Juan Wallace is a MLB, let's eliminate him, and put him in the redshirt corner. I love Tre Allison but he isn't an early enrollee and he has so many more experienced players in front of him, I am going to put him in the redshirt corner as well.

Since I have Wallace redshirting, someone has to be the backup MLB. I think it comes down to Armstrong or Richards. I think Richards ends up in this role. He has been groomed to be the MIKE of the future since he arrived and I don't think that changes despite the arrival of Williams.

That leave Armstrong at OLB. He played more than any of the returnees at LB in 2017, has been with a program a lot time and at 6'2, 226 pounds, he is physically more ready than a lot of these guys to play. I will pencil him as starter number two, at OLB. No idea which spot he will play; my guess is the SAM position.

Whitner played a fair amount, looks like he has skills in pass coverage and I think that is where he will play for this team. Don't see him as a starter.

That leaves Guthrie and Cullen as the experienced guys who are more physically and mentally ready to play, versus Trotter and Fagan, who might be better overall athletes but who are only listed at 200 pounds on the roster today. Fagan. They both came in the last class but Fagan enrolled early and Fagan played as a true frosh, while Trotter redshirted. That gives Fagan a leg up on him. Guthrie played a lot but it was at DE, and mostly featured him getting destroyed by played far bigger than he was. But he also has two years of experience playing linebacker at the JUCO level. He is listed at 6'2 and 215 pounds, which puts him clearly physically ahead of Fagan. Shy is listed at 6'0 and 209 pounds, though sources indicate he is considerably bigger than that now.

I could easily see any of these guys win the job. When in doubt, I think the more experienced, more physically ready player tends to win, so I am going to go with Guthrie. Personally, I am rooting for Shy, because I would love to have a couple of guys who can really run as starting LBs (Williams can fly). Very interested to see what happens here. Maybe the decision to bring in Williams signals that the staff sees speed as being really important and maybe it foreshadows a breakthrough for Shy too.

Anyway, here is my two deep:

SAM: Armstrong/Cullen
MIKE: Williams/Richards
WILL: Guthrie/Fagan

May the best men win!
 
Andrew Armstrong
Keilan Whitner
Ryan Guthrie

Tyrell Richards
Shy Cullen
Kadeem Trotter
Nad Fagan

Juan Wallace
Lakeim Williams
Tre Allison

Coach Babers has said before he doesn't bring in JUCOs unless he thinks they can help immediately. I think Lak is definitely in the rotation, and is a likely starter. He played OLB in junior college but I know they are starting him in the middle. I think this is because the staff doesn't think the MLBs on the roster (Armstrong and Richards) are ready yet.
BTW, Lakeim was listed at 6'2 240 when he was being recruited but now that he is on the roster, he is listed at 6'0 230. He might be too small to play outside anyway.

After that, it gets pretty murky for me. Since Juan Wallace is a MLB, let's eliminate him, and put him in the redshirt corner. I love Tre Allison but he isn't an early enrollee and he has so many more experienced players in front of him, I am going to put him in the redshirt corner as well.

Since I have Wallace redshirting, someone has to be the backup MLB. I think it comes down to Armstrong or Richards. I think Richards ends up in this role. He has been groomed to be the MIKE of the future since he arrived and I don't think that changes despite the arrival of Williams.

That leave Armstrong at OLB. He played more than any of the returnees at LB in 2017, has been with a program a lot time and at 6'2, 226 pounds, he is physically more ready than a lot of these guys to play. I will pencil him as starter number two, at OLB. No idea which spot he will play; my guess is the SAM position.

Whitner played a fair amount, looks like he has skills in pass coverage and I think that is where he will play for this team. Don't see him as a starter.

That leaves Guthrie and Cullen as the experienced guys who are more physically and mentally ready to play, versus Trotter and Fagan, who might be better overall athletes but who are only listed at 200 pounds on the roster today. Fagan. They both came in the last class but Fagan enrolled early and Fagan played as a true frosh, while Trotter redshirted. That gives Fagan a leg up on him. Guthrie played a lot but it was at DE, and mostly featured him getting destroyed by played far bigger than he was. But he also has two years of experience playing linebacker at the JUCO level. He is listed at 6'2 and 215 pounds, which puts him clearly physically ahead of Fagan. Shy is listed at 6'0 and 209 pounds, though sources indicate he is considerably bigger than that now.

I could easily see any of these guys win the job. When in doubt, I think the more experienced, more physically ready player tends to win, so I am going to go with Guthrie. Personally, I am rooting for Shy, because I would love to have a couple of guys who can really run as starting LBs (Williams can fly). Very interested to see what happens here. Maybe the decision to bring in Williams signals that the staff sees speed as being really important and maybe it foreshadows a breakthrough for Shy too.

Anyway, here is my two deep:

SAM: Armstrong/Cullen
MIKE: Williams/Richards
WILL: Guthrie/Fagan

May the best men win!

IF we're able to RS both Wallace and Allison, that sets us up very nicely moving forward. Given that Keilan Whitner and Kadeem Trotter have the experience and S&C edge over the true Frosh, there's no reason to play either of them unless they are just so talented that they force their way onto the field.

I agree that Lakeim is probably the only true newcomer to see much action, and it'll be guys who have been here taking up the other spots on the 2-deep.
 
If we can redshirt juan and tre, that is a GREAT sign for our program.
 
A lot of speculation and logical reasoning in this thread. Not many actual observations or updates. The fact is that this unit is the most unsettled on the team -- about as unsettled as any unit in recent seasons. Lost our top 4 LBs, all veterans, multi-year starters. Valdez had honors in the MAC playing for BGSU in 2015. Franklin and Bennett have each had ACC honors at some levels in 2016 (Franklin) and 2017 (Bennett).

The replacements have yet to prove anything. We saw Guthrie in 2017 but playing out of position at DE. He earned accolades as a LB in JUCO in 2016. Armstrong has played some -- not a lot. Some others have played special teams -- coverage. There isn't a lot of go on.

I don't believe we have reliable weights and metrics -- for many in this group, what we have is weights as of early August 2017. I expect Richards and Fagan, and maybe other returning players, will have benefitted from S&C.
Franklin and Bennett were a starting duo (MLB and Wil) as true sophs. Presume a couple of 2nd years could have a similar break-through. Wide open competition, so Spring practice will be interesting.
 
There's talent here but what will accelerate their progress and confidence will be an above average DL and Secondary. This can hide their inexperience, especially with play fakes. Curious to see who will be out there thinking too much/confused and end up in nowheresville and who will be able to play downhill, push off blocks/tackle and cover some rb's/wr's.
 
we could really use the new rule that allows 4 games to be played and save the RS, when we are limping down the stretch every year.
 
The incoming transfer
Man I'm getting old. Swore that the dude from Fox News was one of the incoming frosh...I'll show myself out now...
 
Andrew Armstrong
Keilan Whitner
Ryan Guthrie

Tyrell Richards
Shy Cullen
Kadeem Trotter
Nad Fagan

Juan Wallace
Lakeim Williams
Tre Allison

Coach Babers has said before he doesn't bring in JUCOs unless he thinks they can help immediately. I think Lak is definitely in the rotation, and is a likely starter. He played OLB in junior college but I know they are starting him in the middle. I think this is because the staff doesn't think the MLBs on the roster (Armstrong and Richards) are ready yet.
BTW, Lakeim was listed at 6'2 240 when he was being recruited but now that he is on the roster, he is listed at 6'0 230. He might be too small to play outside anyway.

After that, it gets pretty murky for me. Since Juan Wallace is a MLB, let's eliminate him, and put him in the redshirt corner. I love Tre Allison but he isn't an early enrollee and he has so many more experienced players in front of him, I am going to put him in the redshirt corner as well.

Since I have Wallace redshirting, someone has to be the backup MLB. I think it comes down to Armstrong or Richards. I think Richards ends up in this role. He has been groomed to be the MIKE of the future since he arrived and I don't think that changes despite the arrival of Williams.

That leave Armstrong at OLB. He played more than any of the returnees at LB in 2017, has been with a program a lot time and at 6'2, 226 pounds, he is physically more ready than a lot of these guys to play. I will pencil him as starter number two, at OLB. No idea which spot he will play; my guess is the SAM position.

Whitner played a fair amount, looks like he has skills in pass coverage and I think that is where he will play for this team. Don't see him as a starter.

That leaves Guthrie and Cullen as the experienced guys who are more physically and mentally ready to play, versus Trotter and Fagan, who might be better overall athletes but who are only listed at 200 pounds on the roster today. Fagan. They both came in the last class but Fagan enrolled early and Fagan played as a true frosh, while Trotter redshirted. That gives Fagan a leg up on him. Guthrie played a lot but it was at DE, and mostly featured him getting destroyed by played far bigger than he was. But he also has two years of experience playing linebacker at the JUCO level. He is listed at 6'2 and 215 pounds, which puts him clearly physically ahead of Fagan. Shy is listed at 6'0 and 209 pounds, though sources indicate he is considerably bigger than that now.

I could easily see any of these guys win the job. When in doubt, I think the more experienced, more physically ready player tends to win, so I am going to go with Guthrie. Personally, I am rooting for Shy, because I would love to have a couple of guys who can really run as starting LBs (Williams can fly). Very interested to see what happens here. Maybe the decision to bring in Williams signals that the staff sees speed as being really important and maybe it foreshadows a breakthrough for Shy too.

Anyway, here is my two deep:

SAM: Armstrong/Cullen
MIKE: Williams/Richards
WILL: Guthrie/Fagan

May the best men win!
Shy is 230 now. Squating 575 for 3. Benching 225 for 22. They will be timing his 40 in another week or so... hoping for sub4.5 but we will see.
I would expect Whitner Williams Guthrie to be your starters for spring but we will see. Still hoping for Shy to get in there somewhere... depending on Williams picking up the play book he may get ahead of him at middle and maybe pushing for a start at sam but it’s early lol
 

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