AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 08
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Rating the SEC’s best linebackers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The SEC lost some great linebackers after the 2006 season like Juwan Simpson of Alabama, Patrick Willis of Ole Miss, Sam Olajubuta of Arkansas, and Tony Taylor of Georgia.
But there is still a very impressive group coming back for this season. Here are my top five. Disagree? Then give me your top five.
1. Jasper Brinkley, Sr., South Carolina: Had 107 tackles in his first season after transferring from Georgia Military College. He has an incredible nose for the football. He had 85 solo tackles last season and will be the bell cow on a very good South Carolina defense.
2. Ali Highsmith, LSU: May be the best outside linebacker in the country. Has played in 38 games with 24 starts at two different positions for the Tigers. Has incredible speed and delivers the big hit.
3. Jerod Mayo, Jr., Tennessee: If he stays healthy, Mayo has a chance to be an All-American this season. Had three games last season with 12 tackles and two more games with 10 tackles. Coaches believe he could be as good as any linebacker who has ever played at Tennessee.
4. Jonathon Goff, Sr., Vanderbilt: Has started 28 straight games for the Commodores and has played in all 34 games since he got to campus in 2004. His 194 career tackles is the third best total of any returning player in the SEC this season. Had 93 tackles last season, a career high.
5. Wesley Woodyard, Sr., Kentucky: The league’s coaches made Woodyard a first-team All-SEC pick after posting 122 tackles as a junior. Had 100 tackles as a sophomore. With 256 career tackles, Woodyard could become the first Kentucky player in 14 years to reach 300 tackles. Will start the season with a cast on his broken hand.
HONORABLE MENTION
Tray Blackmon, Soph., Auburn: If the LaGrange native gets this act together off the field, he can be an all-conference player this season.
Darry Beckwith, Jr., LSU: Beckwith moved from outside to middle linebacker midway through last season and has found a home. Had 65 total tackles and should have a big year.
Freddie Fairchild, Soph., Arkansas: Fairchild was a freshman All-America in 2005 and then had 12 tackles in the 2006 opener with Southern Cal. Then he was lost for the season with a knee injury in the second game. Now he’s back and ready for a big year. The NCAA gave him a medical redshirt so he is still a sophomore.
Prince Hall, Soph., Alabama: Hall is the only returning linebacker and will get a lot of work in Alabama’s new 3-4 defense.
Brandon Miller, Sr., Georgia: With all of Georgia’s starters from 2006 gone Miller, who had five starts last season, needs to step up at middle linebacker. He will. He is a huge key as the Bulldogs rebuild their defense.
