Position Preview: Linebackers
9/4/2010 12:20:14 AM | Football
ABILENE – ACU head coach Chris Thomsen isn't yet ready to say this year's linebacker group is the best position group he's had in his six years at ACU, but he's pretty close.
"They're the best group of linebackers we've had since I've been here," he said. "As for the other deal, we'll just have to see how the season progresses. But we've certainly got a great group with every intangible you'd want out of a group of players."
The Wildcats will have four senior starters at linebacker with inside linebackers Kevin Washington and Eric Edwards and outside linebackers Courtney Lane and Bryson Lewis. Nathan Baggs, Casey Carr, Obinna Ononobi and Thor Woerner will be the backups and will see plenty of time on the field.
Lewis has played in 38 games as a Wildcat, while Edwards has played in 33 games with 25 consecutive starts. Washington didn't earn a starting spot until the seventh game of the 2009 season, but he still led the Wildcats in tackles, and Lane started 11 games and played in all 13 in 2009.
"The first thing I think about when I think of Bryson is his unselfishness," Thomsen said. "He's got great character and leadership, and he's definitely one of the great leaders on our team.
"Eric is just a great, great kid and a good football player," he said. "He's in that same mold as a Cody Stutts, Sam Collins or Jerale Badon; guys that didn't say a lot, but led by their actions.
"Kevin is one of the undisputed leaders of our team," Thomsen said. "He brings an edge to our defense, which we needed. He's one of our more vocal leaders, which is good.
"Courtney is such a hard worker," Thomsen said. "He dropped about 20 pounds over the summer and came to camp more ready to play than at any point last year. This is his second year in our program, so I'm excited to see what he can do."
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