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An almost entirely new LB room for '26?

skyman said:
Busch film looks good, seems to have good ready size and closing speed in box but I dont think since Mario been here we have gotten a young LB ready for immediate PT, when is last time we had a true freshman LB start out gate? Quarterman crew out of necessity?

Need to hit portal HARD but we havent done well at that spot, might have to tamper big time, Cal LB #0 wanna come across country hopefully?

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Oh my lawd
 
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I trust Heatherman's LB evals in the portal.

I'm more concerned with replacing Bain and Mesidor on the Edge. Edge Rushers like that are **** near impossible to find in the portal. Miami being able to get pressure with 4 really made this defense go.
 
Not sure I agree with all the doom and gloom.

Boner recorded 56 tackles in 2024 at NC State. He and Aguirre are each entering year 4 and we should feel pretty comfortable penciling them in as starters imo.

If Bryant can slim down and make the transition to LB that would give us 3 veterans with lots of experience, not including another year 4 guy in Washington who had earned some PT in 2024.

Wiley and Marcelin played specials and should be ready to roll this spring. Pruitt is there to seemingly play whatever role is asked of him although he remains very slender.

If the three newbs are here for the spring then that's 10 LBs fighting for 2 spots a few months from now.
 
We should go out and get 2 starting LBers in the portal. If one or two of the returnees makes a leap and beats them out, cool. Still, go get 2 starting LBers in the portal.
 
Snoop said:
I trust Heatherman's LB evals in the portal.

I'm more concerned with replacing Bain and Mesidor on the Edge. Edge Rushers like that are **** near impossible to find in the portal. Miami being able to get pressure with 4 really made this defense go.
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We’ve recruited great there, not worried at all! If lightfoot puts on 20 pounds of good weight he will be a game wrecker and Hayden Lowe is already a monster. Plenty of DE for that rotation
 
LuCane said:
Outgoing:

Chase Smith - super senior, presumably gone (heard the thing about another medical shirt)
Adarius Hayes - legal issues, presumably gone
Wes Bissainthe - Senior, played 4 years, would have to somehow apply to return
Jay Alderman - RS Senior, presumably gone
Mo Toure - Grad Student, presumably gone

Possibly returning:

Malik Bryant - has eligibility, but more of a standup End, it seems, has struggled in space
Popo Aguirre - will presumably be part of the rotation
Cam Pruitt - hybrid player, more of a Safety this season
Kellen Wiley - would have loved to see more snaps, will presumably be part of next year's rotation
Kamal Bonner - don't know much about him other than he stood completely still on a TD play
Ezekiel Marcelin - haven't seen him enough; unproven and untested
Bobby Washington* - didn't originally list him because had heard his injury was serious and no idea what that means going forward

Incoming:

Jordan Campbell - highly rated, but may fall into the Malik Bryant stand up Edge player role or even a clearcut DE
Justin Edwards - needs weight
Karsten Busch - people like him, I don't know much about him; the limited stuff I did see didn't look as fluid (sideline to sideline) as I'd hoped, but maybe more of an inside thumper player; would need to see more.

Now, this isn't how I make a living, but if I'm looking at that situation, I'm requesting a bigger budget asap. Next year's defense may be above average to elite at DL and DB - with a couple additions in both. I hope we don't find ourselves with a "the LB position kept us from what we could be" situation.

*I'm sure I missed some stuff. Here for the discussion.
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Next year begins the Wiley era... and I am stoked for it.
 
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LBs didnt stand out a single game all year. Very meh. Portal 2 if not 3 guys in. Whens the last time we had a real stud LB? Feels like its been 5-10 years
 
Meast21 said:
LBs didnt stand out a single game all year. Very meh. Portal 2 if not 3 guys in. Whens the last time we had a real stud LB? Feels like its been 5-10 years
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I think we are worse off at LBer, from a returning production standpoint, than we were at outside corner last year when we brought back OJ & Damari. We went wholesale shopping there and even got two guys (Karnley & Brantley) who never played or played just a few meaningless snaps for us there this year.

While I think the talent is there for say a 4-LBer rotation of Wiley, Washington, Popo, and Pruitt to be pretty good I don't want to bet on it.

The more talented portal LBers we bring in the merrier.
 
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