2005 Cardinal Football Outlook - Linebackers
August 24, 2005 | Football
Aug. 24, 2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the Louisville football team's 2005 season-opener at Kentucky fast-approaching, UofLSports.com will be providing a daily preview of the Cards' first season in the BIG EAST Conference. Today's eighth installment looks at the Cards' linebackers.
2005 Louisville Linebackers
Looking at the Cardinal defense the last two seasons it was easy to notice first team All-Conference linebacker Robert McCune in the middle. However, "The Hammer" has graduated and the Cardinals will turn to others to attempt to replace's McCune 258 tackles over the last two seasons.
The Cardinals do have a pair of exciting playmakers on the outside in senior Brandon Johnson and junior Abe Brown.
The emergence of Johnson and his speed was one of the noticeable differences on the Cardinal defense last season. The 6-5 senior was second on the team with 84 tackles and recorded a pair of interceptions. He was around the football and caused the opposition fits by using his speed to get into the backfield.
Brown is built in the same mold as Johnson - tall and rangy. Brown, in his first season as a starter, logged 55 tackles and was third on the team with six sacks. Brown made a lot of big plays last season, including a game-ending interception against Memphis in a 56-49 win over the Tigers.
Sophomore Malik Jackson is a hard-hitter who hopes to get on the field more this fall. Jackson played a pivotal role on special teams a year ago, but the coaching staff would like to see him play a larger role on defense.
Sophomores Preston Smith and Terrance Butler are also candidates for playing time at linebacker. Smith saw considerable action in 2004 and continues to improve, while Butler saw action at safety last season, but made the transition to linebacker in the spring.
Replacing McCune in the middle will be one of the biggest questions hoped to be answered this fall. Coming out of spring drills, sophomore Matt Sanders emerged as the starter. He had a solid spring and showed flashes that he's capable of taking over the position. He played well on special teams and developed his game toward the end of the season. The product of Male High School in Louisville registered a career-high 26 tackles and one tackle for loss. Red-shirt freshman Lamar Myles is also a candidate for playing time there. He red-shirted last season, but the coaching staff likes his speed and thinks he can be a valuable performer at middle linebacker.
The Cardinals signed a talented player in Nate Harris from Dodge City Community College. An All-American junior-college selection, Harris is a fast, physical player who could help stabilize this position in 2005. Linebackers coach Reggie Johnson is also high on red-shirt freshman Johnnie Burns. A linebacker on the scout team last fall, Burns impressed coaches with his hard work and potential at the linebacker position. He was a four-year starter at Fletcher High School in Florida and was a second team All-State honoree. Freshman Blake Boyd from North Hopkins High School (Ky.) could also move into the rotation this fall.
