Guess at starting LBs ?

[gofurman]

I know it is very early. But time on my hands as I am a Furman Football and college bball fan primarily

Anywho - Would you think Hope and Perryman and McKoy and Willis will start at the 4 LB spots?

-with Davonta Porter and Gilby and Jack Owen as backups? who else as backup ? Or will Hope still be a third down rush guy? If so, who will start vs the rush when Hope is waiting for passing downs?

thoughts /guesses? offseason

[Paul C]

Perryman (Sr) and McKoy (Jr) are almost surefire starters at the 2 ILB spots. Perryman improved TREMENDOUSLY over the course of last year and McKoy is an athletic playmaker who should become more consistent with his experience. I'd expect the primary backups to be Gilby (R-Fr) and Josh Agbenou (T-Fr), with the potential that Agbenou only plays 4 games and gets a RS, if the injury situation allows. Jack Owens (Jr) will get snaps too. As mentioned in the other thread, blue-chipper Bryce McCormick (T-Fr) could wind up here as he's still listed as LB/TE....

At the spur (drop end) I think Jordan Willis (Sr) has the starting spot but DaeOne Wilkins (R-Fr) who got some PT as a True Fr returns and we have Jalen Miller from Byrnes coming in as a Fr.

Wouldn't be surprised if the starter at bandit (rush end) is Davonte Porter (Jr) and Adrian Hope (So) continues to come off the bench in passing situations. Also have Dillon Vann (Jr) in the mix to provide depth.

I really like our talent and depth at the LB spots. Sure we could use another ILB, and I'd be surprised if we didn't prioritize bringing in a blue-chip bandit in this years recruiting class but we are in good shape here with both the starters and immediate depth.

[Jasper]

Perryman (Sr) and McKoy (Jr) are almost surefire starters at the 2 ILB spots. Perryman improved TREMENDOUSLY over the course of last year and McKoy is an athletic playmaker who should become more consistent with his experience. I'd expect the primary backups to be Gilby (R-Fr) and Josh Agbenou (T-Fr), with the potential that Agbenou only plays 4 games and gets a RS, if the injury situation allows. Jack Owens (Jr) will get snaps too. As mentioned in the other thread, blue-chipper Bryce McCormick (T-Fr) could wind up here as he's still listed as LB/TE....

At the spur (drop end) I think Jordan Willis (Sr) has the starting spot but DaeOne Wilkins (R-Fr) who got some PT as a True Fr returns and we have Jalen Miller from Byrnes coming in as a Fr.

Wouldn't be surprised if the starter at bandit (rush end) is Davonte Porter (Jr) and Adrian Hope (So) continues to come off the bench in passing situations. Also have Dillon Vann (Jr) in the mix to provide depth.

Paul's choices are very sound. Perryman, McCoy and Willis are locks - as are their respective backups. I expect big things from the bandit position this year. I know that Adrian Hope expects to start this year but I think the coaches are going to use this set of pass rushers as a primary weapon and I expect all 3 of them will see plenty of PT. Jalen Miller is an intriguing talent at Spur but I think it will take him a while to digest the nuances of that position in our schemes.
I really like our talent and depth at the LB spots. Gilby, Owens and Wilkens give us excellent depth & may allow the freshmen to be redshirted. With Weems coming back now, this entire defense looks very strong already and there is always a freshman or two who will not be sat down.

[AstroDin]

He's not a linebacker but I'm excited to see Devonté Jones in purple. Furman has as a deep a DL that I've seen but Jones is a different level for us - he gives us that widebody NG that Wofford has had for the last several years.

Also don't sleep on this guy, Landon Moody is a fine PWO LB:

[AstroDin]

This dude is hardcore, another MOODY video:

[fufanatic]

This dude is hardcore, another MOODY video:

Love how supportive the dog was during the whole thing.

[The Jackal]

A couple of thoughts on linebackers:

- We are finally starting to see a depth chart. When Hendrix arrived, we were paper thin at linebacker. For the first time in a long while we have starters, backups, and won't have to rely on true freshmen.

- I think we will also need to see good rotational depth along the defensive line and especially at NG. In an odd man front, a lot of those guys up front are called on to force double teams and keep offensive linemen off of the linebackers. Much easier for McKoy to make tackles when he doesn't have linemen cutting his ankles.

- To me, the most interesting defensive question is whether Furman continues to use Hope primarily in passing and late-game situations. A fresh Hope really pressured tired offenses late in the game, where he would get to the QB, force turnovers, etc. With Vann and Porter, I think Furman can probably keep up a pretty relentless pass rush for four quarters.

[Flagman]

I anticipate starting the season @ 175 LBS.

[gofurman]

I anticipate starting the season @ 175 LBS.

nice - well played

[DungeonRealm]

A couple of thoughts on linebackers:

- We are finally starting to see a depth chart. When Hendrix arrived, we were paper thin at linebacker. For the first time in a long while we have starters, backups, and won't have to rely on true freshmen.

- I think we will also need to see good rotational depth along the defensive line and especially at NG. In an odd man front, a lot of those guys up front are called on to force double teams and keep offensive linemen off of the linebackers. Much easier for McKoy to make tackles when he doesn't have linemen cutting his ankles.

- To me, the most interesting defensive question is whether Furman continues to use Hope primarily in passing and late-game situations. A fresh Hope really pressured tired offenses late in the game, where he would get to the QB, force turnovers, etc. With Vann and Porter, I think Furman can probably keep up a pretty relentless pass rush for four quarters.

Agreed, nice to have a few extra horses in the stable ready to go it seems, as opposed to years past when we were a bit thin on depth

[The Jackal]

A couple of thoughts on linebackers:

- We are finally starting to see a depth chart. When Hendrix arrived, we were paper thin at linebacker. For the first time in a long while we have starters, backups, and won't have to rely on true freshmen.

- I think we will also need to see good rotational depth along the defensive line and especially at NG. In an odd man front, a lot of those guys up front are called on to force double teams and keep offensive linemen off of the linebackers. Much easier for McKoy to make tackles when he doesn't have linemen cutting his ankles.

- To me, the most interesting defensive question is whether Furman continues to use Hope primarily in passing and late-game situations. A fresh Hope really pressured tired offenses late in the game, where he would get to the QB, force turnovers, etc. With Vann and Porter, I think Furman can probably keep up a pretty relentless pass rush for four quarters.

Agreed, nice to have a few extra horses in the stable ready to go it seems, as opposed to years past when we were a bit thin on depth

A bit thin?

In Hendrix's first year, Furman had three veterans (Olusanya, Woodruff, and Burch), none of whom were recruited to play linebacker. Due to injuries, Furman relied on two true freshmen - McKoy and Ellis. McKoy was a corner back in high school and recruited to play safety. As far as I'm aware, he'd never played linebacker.

In year two, Ellis left and it was just McKoy. Perryman moved inside, where he had not really played. Voyles was injured. Jack Owen saw snaps, but he was another converted safety. Backups include true freshmen like Gilby.

In year three, now you have McKoy as a 3 year starter. Perryman might be the most improved defensive player on the team and is going to be a force this season. Now you have Gilby and Owen with more experience. Waiting in the wings is the highly regarded Josh Agbenou.

We've gone from basically a linebacking group filled with guys playing out of position to a three deep with talented, physical, linebackers. We haven't had this much linebacker depth in probably 10 years.