MOBILE, Ala. - Linebackers tend to always be in the middle. In the middle of the defense, in the middle of the field, and in the middle of a goal line stand. Being in the middle becomes second nature. Perhaps that's why they become the natural leaders of a team's defense.
"Linebackers are kind of like the quarterbacks of the defense," said University of South Alabama junior linebacker Justin Dunn. "We have to run everything, make sure everybody is in the right place, make the strength calls and get everybody lined up. As far as taking on a leadership role, it's something that's just put on us. It's not something we take on ourselves, but it's something that we have to do because we're linebackers. We try to be leaders all the time, but being a linebacker makes it more important."
The Jaguars are running a 3-4 scheme in their inaugural season, meaning there will be four linebackers on the field in most situations. With a young, inexperienced team, the coaches expect some bumps in the road, but having a pair of starters with two years of collegiate experience in the middle should reduce the learning curve.
"We ask them to do so much here. We ask them to get the calls, get the personnel, get the down and distance, know what the coverage is, and make every tackle," inside linebackers coach Kurt Crain said. "Justin Dunn and Charlie Higgenbotham have both been great this camp. They're leaders on the field and off the field, and I couldn't be prouder of those two guys."
Dunn transferred to USA from Birmingham-Southern in time to practice in the spring, but Higgenbotham joined the Jags from Alabama just before the start of fall camp. With four years of experience playing college football, the two have plenty to offer the three freshman who are expected to provide relief off the bench.
"Enrique Williams and Bryson James have come in and learned from those older guys, and they never missed a beat, and Brett Hancock is really a different player than who he was in the spring," Crain said. "I can't say enough about those guys, and the best compliment I can give them is that I'm not scared to put any of them in against Hargrave."
"These are guys that have gone through four weeks of camp," Crain added. "I coached at Auburn a long time, but we've probably hit more in this camp than any place I've ever been, and these guys didn't miss one practice - that tells you what kind of people they are and how tough they are, and that's what it's going to take for us to be successful."
Dunn says the respect is mutual.
"It's fantastic playing for a guy that was an All-American at Auburn and played in the pros," Dunn said. "That alone gives him credibility as a linebackers coach because of where he's been and what he's done. He expects more from us at the linebacker position, and he doesn't accept anything less than 110 percent each play. We have to know our assignments and know what we have to do each and every play."
The Jaguar inside linebackers may have more responsibility on the defense, but the guys on the outside have to be the most versatile.
"Finding an outside linebacker is getting really hard to do.," said outside linebackers coach Chuck Dunn. "Playing 3-4, we're expecting that guy to cover man on a receiver or a tight end, play zone, and rush the passer. We're asking them to be three people - a safety, a defensive end, and an outside linebacker."
"It's a challenge. In high school I really didn't do too much of that, but coach Dunn is working with me every day to get better at what I do, get more physical, and get faster coming off the ball," freshman Clifton Crews said. "Coach Dunn pushes me harder and harder every day, and coach Clark and coach Crain push me harder. It is challenging having to cover, blitz, and read everything, so we've got the most challenging spot on the field, but we've got one of the best coaches too."
USA doesn't have nearly as much experience at the outside linebacker position. Dunn said he has four guys he expects to see significant playing time, and none of those four have played a single down in a college football game.
Redshirt freshman Josh Chestang is expected to be the starter on the weak side, while two true freshmen - Logan Bennett and Crews - are battling for the starting job on the strong side.
"I told Josh that he's a junior in my eyes, and I'm really proud of him because he's taken the role of leadership for the whole defense," Dunn said. "He was a very quiet kid when he got here, and he's taken over these young kids as well as the whole defense, so it's been fun to watch us go from where we were to where we are now. We've still got a lot of work to do, but from then to now is a huge difference."
"Josh helps me with everything. Whether it's school, or if I need a ride to the room, or anything on the field," Crews said. "If I make a mistake and coach Dunn doesn't see it, he'll come help me out. He's always helping us."
Redshirt freshman Alex Tamariz is listed second on the depth chart behind Chestang, and Cori Barnett and Zack Rone both gained experience when they went through spring practice with the Jags. Dunn said the four redshirt freshmen have taken on leadership roles.
"Those four were here in the spring when we first started this thing, they went through the bumps and bruises of not knowing what we were doing. They've been great leaders, and I'm very proud of them," Dunn said. "They've shown so much leadership that they're like upperclassmen for us. You're seeing the young guys mesh with the older guys, and the young guys are going to the older guys and asking them questions about what we're doing, so it's been fun to watch."
"We understand we're dealing with 18-year-old freshmen, but at the same time we're expecting so much out of them," he added. "As coaches we're perfectionists and competitors, and we understand they're young and inexperienced, but we're expecting them to play like they're not.
The Jags returned to the practice field wearing only helmets Thursday in their last day of preparation before the third and final scrimmage, Friday at 4 p.m. at the on-campus practice fields.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
