A&M fans keep acting like there is a concern with linebacker depth and to be honest, I'm having a hard time understanding why. We only play 2 LBs. Through 3 Jimbo classes, we have signed 8 LBs, which is an average of 2.67 LBs per class. I don't see the huge concern at LB like so many do.

2019 signees: (We already know that White is a good player)

1) Andre White
2) Chris Russell
3) KeShun Brown
4) Tarian Lee


2020 signees: (TexAgs is high on Doyle and Cooper)

1) Antonio Doyle
2) Edgerrin Cooper
3) Braedon Mowry (Luicci mentioned that Mowry is playing as a stand up linebacker now)


2021 signees:

1) Kenneth Phillips


2022 potential signees: (2 studs that we are going after)

1) Harold Perkins
2) Martrell Harris

We just understand why we can't get guys like Devin White anymore. In the 90s we could get any linebacker we wanted.

TexanJeff said:

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We just understand why we can't get guys like Devin White anymore. In the 90s we could get any linebacker we wanted.

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Outside of Coryatt and Dat, most of those "names" were OLBs in a 3-4 scheme.
Sadly only a very few did much in the NFL

2021 will be the first time a non-Sumlin recruit or player starts at LB in the Jimbo era.

funny...Sumlin had such a hard time recruiting LB's in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016...but ended up leaving Jimbo...Dodson for 1 year and Buddy Johnson

B/c lb is a violent position and one of the more likely to get hurt. They are also vital to fill special teams.

Andre white is the only one who has proven anything. Chris Russell had played spot duty. The rest have done little.

IF both buddy and hansford leave, we need to find someone to start with White and at least one capable reserve. The fact that Russell has 4 tackles and the next guy has 2 says we are not there yet.

#11 William Thomas was a great pro . Reggie Brown would have been special.

Regardless of whether Hansford returns or not, a true freshman is very unlikely to be staring at LB for us unless we grabbed an elite 5 star guy. If we had concerns about the starting LBs next year, then we should've grabbed more last year or 2 years ago

reload85 said:

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#11 William Thomas was a great pro . Reggie Brown would have been special.

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Johnny Holland was very good.

Agreed!

We drafted plenty of 4*s. Andre white is the only one to emerge so far. Doesn't mean the others won't.

It may be Hansford and White next season.

We really struggle recruiting linebackers. It's insane.

Recruiting 2.67 LB/year even if you "only play two" is banking on a pretty darn high hit-rate, and minimal injuries.

and of course one big reason for that...

there is not an in-state advantage at that position --- state doesn't produce many

Traveler said:

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Recruiting 2.67 LB/year even if you "only play two" is banking on a pretty darn high hit-rate, and minimal injuries.

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Counting a RS year, that'll keep 13.35 LBs on the roster. If we play 2 most of the time, oughtta be fine

Michaelflora2112 said:

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2022 potential signees: (2 studs that we are going after)

1) Harold Perkins
2) Martrell Harris

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I think Doyle and Cooper were a nice haul last year but the issue is a year ago you would have listed "2 studs that we are going after" in 2021... and whoever is projected as those two never seem to materialize.

Shoefly! said:

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reload85 said:

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#11 William Thomas was a great pro . Reggie Brown would have been special.

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Johnny Holland was very good.

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Add Aaron Wallace and Warrick Holdman to the list.

White is one of the reasons I believe so strongly in this coaching staff. He is a completely different player than he was at the start of the season. Jaylon Jones is another one of those types of tremendous progress players that come to mind.

exposing myself as an old fart here but Ed Simonini and Garth TenNapel was as good of LBer duo as I have ever seen.

If you don't understands it's okay because a lot of us older Aggie just got spoiler with the shutdown type LB we had in the 1980s and 90s and unless you saw it you would not understand but that's ok because we will get there .....I just remember at one time we were called Linebacker University'.....

I don't want Keshun Brown enrolled in our University, much less on the football field.

Of the 4 LBs signed in 2019, 2 of them were 4 stars. Of the 3 LBs signed in 2020, 3 of them were 4 stars. Doyle and Cooper are going be good ball players for our team. I don't see how that translates to "we can't recruit LBs."

Also your opinion might have to do something with the fact that Texas High Schools don't produce many high level LBs.

W said:

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2021 will be the first time a non-Sumlin recruit or player starts at LB in the Jimbo era.

funny...Sumlin had such a hard time recruiting LB's in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016...but ended up leaving Jimbo...Dodson for 1 year and Buddy Johnson

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And Hansford, who is frankly a better athlete than Buddy is, although Sumlin being the idiot he was tried to turn him into a wideout. Hansford is expected to come back for another year, which is huge assuming he follows through.

Shoefly! said:

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reload85 said:

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#11 William Thomas was a great pro . Reggie Brown would have been special.

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Johnny Holland was very good.

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If memory serves, both William Thomas & Johnny Holland were recruited as quarterbacks to A&M. So even Linebacker U was having to develop players. Really makes you think

2021 is going to be a rough year to start out for the LBs. Lots of inexperience on that list, hopefully they get better as the season goes on.

Bingo, both were QB.

Michaelflora2112 said:

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Of the 4 LBs signed in 2019, 2 of them were 4 stars. Of the 3 LBs signed in 2020, 3 of them were 4 stars. Doyle and Cooper are going be good ball players for our team. I don't see how that translates to "we can't recruit LBs."

Also your opinion might have to do something with the fact that Texas High Schools don't produce many high level LBs.

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You're getting it. Linebacker recruiting under this staff has been very solid. Not quite elite, but good.

We also turned down a 5 star that would have begged to come here this year due to off the field issues

We have 9 currently expected to be on campus in 2021. Even with attrition, we are still going to have a minimum of 7, but I'd still guess 8. Which is 3.5 or 4 deep. There are 22 starters. With 85 ships, plus special teams, different packages(2 te, 4 wr, dime, 2 tb, etc) you can't be 4 deep everywhere. Point is We are more than fine there bodies wise.

We do need the younger guys to step up and start showing out next year. Cooper, Doyle, russell, white, lee, etc

rgag12 said:

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2021 is going to be a rough year to start out for the LBs. Lots of inexperience on that list, hopefully they get better as the season goes on.

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Hansford and white both play a lot. It's quite possible they are our starters. It may be just fine.

Anthony Hines was the only Linebacker recruit I have been really excited about in like 15 years.

We are fine at LB and anyone that says otherwise doesn't follow the team or has little knowledge of the game. Plus the rumor is Hansford is likely to return. Of course if he gets a good draft grade anything is possible.

Thing is they really don't make linebackers that are big and athletic anymore. Meaning prototypical size 6'2 and up and around 220 pounds and up. I don't think it's an AM problem. These type of players just aren't as plentiful as they used to be, and most of the good ones go to the teams that are currently winning. Clemson, Bama etc. I do like the strategy that Sumlin employed. Meaning get the guys that primarily played offense in high school that aren't going to be offensive players in college. , Then flip them to the defense Side. Players like Darion Claiborne( who was gonna be a monster) until he got in trouble and Buddy Johnson and Dodson are examples.

Some of these explosive Mike linebacker types are being played at defensive end in high school these days. They are shorter but explosive defense ends that would make a great Mike at the next level.

Something to look for in recruiting.

I think Johnny Holland was an option qb back when everyone was running the bone or veer.

Nothing getting past the DL, so stop worrying so much

It only take two injuries

Terrance Lewis still hasn't signed which is a clear indication that he is waiting on us to decide if we want him or not.