Positional Breakdown: Weak side Linebacker
Starter: Brian Asamoah
Asamoah made nine starts on the outside in 2020 and led the team with 66 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, three pass breakups, five quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. He flies from sideline to sideline making plays on the ball and attacks the line of scrimmage with relentless force. His role is the playmaker of the defense and he performs it with ease.
Bryan Mead, Shane Whitter and Jamal Morris provide depth behind Asamoah. All three will be intriguing to watch in spring football. Mead has the most experience of the backups, playing in all 11 games in 2020 and notching 28 tackles and a forced fumble. Eight came in kickoff coverage and one in punt coverage on special teams.
As a freshman last year, Whitter totaled nine tackles in nine games and compiled a pass breakup and quarterback hurry in the Cotton Bowl win over Florida. Morris racked up five tackles in 10 games as a redshirt sophomore in 2020. Both have had a limited role but show potential. The linebacker corps will certainly be one to watch in camp.