2019 Position Preview: Linebacker

(Photo courtesy of Larry Sellers)

I was able to catch up with Coach Jimmy Rogers to discuss the linebacker group.  Rogers was promoted this off season to co-defensive coordinator along with Coach Bergstrom. Rogers is excited for the group he is bringing back and feels like there could be a rotation of 6, maybe 7, guys who get opportunities.  Rogers did specifically mention the graduation of Dalton Cox and Eric Kleinschmidt as big losses, not only for their leadership, but the number of reps they have played the last 2-3 years.  Rogers is also hopeful for the incoming freshman and thinks they have the chance to be a special group.   

#2 Christian Rozeboom, 6-2, 225,  is now a senior and is serving as a 3x team captain.  Rozeboom is also a 3x All-Conference selection and a 3x All-American.  He has 364 tackles, 6 INTs, and 3 sacks in his career.  His combination of size, speed, athleticism, and production are why he is considered one of the top 10 FCS NFL draft hopefuls in 2020.  Rozeboom should go down as one of the greatest Jackrabbit players of all time.  Rogers credits Rozeboom for working so hard on the mental side of the game.  He said that Christian has always been athletic but his processing and recognition has improved so much in 4 years.  Rozeboom is a major key to the defense and makes everyone else around him that much better.

#12 Logan Backhaus, 6-4, 210, is back for his third season as a starter and his first season serving as a team captain.  Logan really took on a leadership role in spring ball while Rozeboom recovered from off season surgery.  Backhaus was the 3rd leading tackler last season with 61 stops.  He also had a sack and two interceptions.  Rogers always cites Backhaus's intelligence and speed as major strengths.  As Jackrabbit fans we see the speed from sideline to sideline and while the intelligence is harder to capture, realizing that Logan is always around the ball is a good indicator of his recognition and processing.  Logan had a great spring and summer and will be looked to start at either of the outside linebacker positions.

#7 Seven Wilson, 5-9, 205, is now a true junior and is one of the most physical players on the squad.  Seven has spent the off-season learning the will position after two years of being a sam.  Seven took all the reps in spring ball at will but now needs some game reps.  Coach Rogers felt that his physical nature is a perfect fit for the new position.  Rogers also credited Seven for his commitment to bettering himself both mentally and physically.  He finished last season with 36 tackles and 3 blocked kicks.  Personally, Seven has been a favorite of mine since he first verballed to the Jacks and I'm glad he is getting his shot to start.

#12 Levi Brown, 6-4, 205, is a redshirt sophomore who is itching to get game action as a sam linebacker.  Rogers thinks Levi has All-American type potential and has the physical tools to make it happen.  He is one of the fastest players on the team and that combined with his excellent size makes him a versatile weapon for the defense.  In limited action last season, he had 9 tackles.  Brown could also contribute as a pass rusher as Rogers shared he possess excellent bend for someone his size.

#46 Preston Tetzlaff, 6-2, 215, is the junior special teams dynamo that Jackrabbit fans love.  Tetzlaff has been named by multiple coaches as someone who had the best spring ball and he will compete as the primary mlb backup and to start at the will. Rogers sees the improvement in Tetzlaff's from a physical standpoint.  Tetzlaff is just the latest in a long of Jackrabbit linebackers who went from walk-on to scholarship player because of their effort and heart.  Tetzlaff finished last year with 17 tackles.

#57 Kinser Madison, 6-2, 210, enjoyed a strong redshirt freshman season.  Madison busts his tail every time that he steps on the field, in the classroom, and in the weight room.  He compared him to both Dalton Cox and Preston Tetzlaff for his work ethic which I think is pretty high praise.  Madison will likely earn his place on special teams this season. 
  
#44 Saiveon Williamson, 6-1, 205, is another redshirt freshman.  Saiveon was originally recruited as a safety but continued to grow and was moved to linebacker last summer.  Saiveon has all the physical traits that Rogers is looking for but knows that he needs to advance his knowledge in the playbook.  Rogers reiterated how good of an athlete Saiveon is and thinks he can be an asset on special teams in 2019.

#32 Kyle Tuttle, 6-2, 210, is now a junior and is mostly recovered from his devastating knee injury in 2017.  Tuttle spent last year regaining confidence. Tuttle has speed to burn and loves to hit but is still growing in the playbook and scheme.  One thing that stoodout to me is when Tuttle made a play in fall camp last season and how excited his teammates were for him.  Kyle has been through recovery hell and everyone is rooting for him to succeed. 

Graham Spalding, Adam Bock, Payton Shafer, Matt Barnett, and Thomas Motzko are the incoming freshmen.  Coach Rogers is excited to get these guys in pads and see what they can do.  Rogers projects Spalding as a sam linebacker because of his experience playing in space, he was a safety in high school and his intelligence is an asset for the position.  Bock and Shafer project as will linebackers.  They both are well suited for the position because they can run and are very physical.  Matt Barnett and Thomas Motzko are projecting as middle linebackers.  He also stated that the positions could certainly change based on how they look throughout the season and how they grow and mature.  He hopes to get them all playing time this season at least to the 4 game rule and some may possible play more depending on performance and health.

Go Jacks!
Matt