Photo by: Glenn Losoya
ACU Football Preview: Linebackers
8/18/2021 11:29:00 AM | Football
ABILENE - The linebacker position has become a traditional strength for ACU Football, with Jeremiah Chambers, Sam Denmark and Jack Gibbens serving as anchors over the last few seasons. The Wildcats will look to new leaders this fall to continue that tradition, and several players have already emerged as frontrunners.
Key Returners:
The leading returning tackler among the linebacking corps, redshirt junior Tory Hargrove (Arlington, Texas) is poised for a big year as one of several pieces of the Wildcat defense to have played in all six games last fall.
"Tory has come out of his shell quite a bit, and if you hear a big hit, there's a pretty good chance it came from him." – defensive coordinator Clint Brown
Greg Green
Redshirt junior Greg Green (Houston) picked up 24 tackles in his last full season, including 2.5 tackles for loss from the Will linebacker position.
"Greg is a guy who is a tremendous leader on the field for us, and a lot of our guys look up to him." – defensive coordinator Clint Brown
Chike Nwankwo
Nwankwo (Bridgewater, N.J.) put the conference on notice when he exploded for 10 total tackles (7 solo) against SFA, the second-most of any ACU player in a single game last fall.
"Chike had a good spring and is having an even better fall camp. He's come in more focused, and it is easy to see that he playing faster and more free." – defensive coordinator Clint Brown
Key Newcomers:
Trey Adams, Northern Colorado transfer
Cirby Coheley, freshman, Iowa Park, Texas
Kyle Pointer, freshman, Queen Creek, Ariz.
Ethan Taite, freshman, Frisco, Texas
Key Returners:
Hunter Kier
Redshirt senior Hunter Kier (Washington, Kan.) averaged north of 5.0 tackles per game in the shortened 2020 fall season, racking up a career high six on the road against Army.
"Hunter is the vocal leader of our team, and his intensity holds people accountable to what our standards and our core values are." – defensive coordinator Clint Brown
Tory HargroveRedshirt senior Hunter Kier (Washington, Kan.) averaged north of 5.0 tackles per game in the shortened 2020 fall season, racking up a career high six on the road against Army.
"Hunter is the vocal leader of our team, and his intensity holds people accountable to what our standards and our core values are." – defensive coordinator Clint Brown
The leading returning tackler among the linebacking corps, redshirt junior Tory Hargrove (Arlington, Texas) is poised for a big year as one of several pieces of the Wildcat defense to have played in all six games last fall.
"Tory has come out of his shell quite a bit, and if you hear a big hit, there's a pretty good chance it came from him." – defensive coordinator Clint Brown
Greg Green
Redshirt junior Greg Green (Houston) picked up 24 tackles in his last full season, including 2.5 tackles for loss from the Will linebacker position.
"Greg is a guy who is a tremendous leader on the field for us, and a lot of our guys look up to him." – defensive coordinator Clint Brown
Chike Nwankwo
Nwankwo (Bridgewater, N.J.) put the conference on notice when he exploded for 10 total tackles (7 solo) against SFA, the second-most of any ACU player in a single game last fall.
"Chike had a good spring and is having an even better fall camp. He's come in more focused, and it is easy to see that he playing faster and more free." – defensive coordinator Clint Brown
Key Newcomers:
Trey Adams, Northern Colorado transfer
- redshirt sophomore from Corvallis, Oregon
- redshirted in 2019, UNC did not compete in 2020
- enrolled at ACU in spring of 2021
- 13 tackles, 9 solos in last full season of competition
- First Team All-Colorado Academic Team at UNC
- Signing Day video
- senior from Prosper, Texas
- former three-star recruit and Second Team All-State selection
- named to DFW All-Decade Team
- made the Sunbelt Conference Commissioner's List
- 20 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack during two-year tenure at Texas State
Cirby Coheley, freshman, Iowa Park, Texas
- Signing Day video
- 2018 Newcomer of the year
- former All-District selection
- team got to the 2018 State semifinals
- Iowa Park was 14-1 at the time of the cancellation in the fall of 2020
Kyle Pointer, freshman, Queen Creek, Ariz.
- Signing Day video
- All-Conference Second Team selection at Casteel High School
- team won two State Championships
- father played college football
Ethan Taite, freshman, Frisco, Texas
- Signing Day video
- starred at Independence High School
- averaged 6.6 tackles per game
#GoWildcats
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