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Sorry for the delay (started a new job and have been working on a brand new radio show as well). Will pick up with the linebackers now:

Charleston Southern
Zack Johnson 55 Tackles (32 Solo) 3.5 TFL 0.5 Sacks
Zac Johnston 42 Tackles (21 Solo) 6.0 TFL 1.0 Sacks
Aaron Brown 41 Tackles (21 Solo) 1.0 TFL

CSU returns experience in the linebacking corps with three of the top four tacklers coming from the second level. Look for the three to again be up among the leaders in tackles although they will need some help fro the boys up front so that they dont spend too much time chasing ballcarriers as opposed to stopping them

Coastal Carolina

Quinn Backus 139 Tackles (69 Solo) 8.0 TFL 2.5 Sacks 2 INT 2012 Big South Defensive PoY
Mike McClure 92 Tackles (33 Solo) 8.5 TFL 2.5 Sacks 1 INT 2012 Big South All Conference Second Team
Colton Blackburn 23 Tackles (12 Solo) 2.0 TFL

CCU is led by their two outstanding linebackers in junior Backus and senior McClure. Backus capped off an outstanding season in 2012 earning Player of the Year honors and finishing tops in the league in solo, assist AND total tackles, and tacking on a pair of INTs to his amazing numbers. McClure gave the Chants a 1-2 punch in stopping plays. There is some inexperience behind the two but expect them to lead the way and help the other backers along the way.

Gardner-Webb

Tanner Burch 113 Tackles (51 Solo) 7.5 TFL 2.0 Sacks 2012 Big South All Conference First Team
Bradley Taylor 53 Tackles (27 Solo) 3.5 TFL
Azziz Higgins 31 Tackles (14 Solo) 1.0 TFL

Burch was the heart and soul of the linebacking corps last season and it showed as he finished 60 tackles better than the next player on the list in fellow backer Taylor. Burch will likely be all over the field again for the Runnin Bulldogs and will have plenty of help with Taylor and Higgins both returning to lead what is a very young group.

Liberty
Scott Hyland 55 Tackles (19 Solo) 5.0 TFL 1 INT 2012 Big South All Conference Second Team
Nick Sigmon 52 Tackles (32 Solo) 11.0 TFL 1 INT 2012 Big South All Conference First Team
Dylan Lewellyn 21 Tackles (13 Solo) 1.5 TFL

Its a pair of local products leading he way for Liberty, including outstanding junior Sigmon, who if not for missing time due to a head injury in the Wake Forest game, probably would have led Liberty's linebackers in tackles and possibly led overall. He along with LCA product Hyland were all over the backfield last season, combining for 16 of Liberty's 65 tackles for loss last year, with Sigmon tying for the conference lead in that category. Andrew Jauch comes over from the defensive backs and he snagged the other starting LB position after a standout spring practice, but more than likely it will be Sigmon and Hyland who shape the direction of the linebacking corps in 2012

Presbyterian

Donelle Williams 103 Tackles (50 Solo) 1.5 TFL 2012 Big South All Conference Second Team
Justin Antolik 13 Tackles (7 Solo) 0.0 TFL
Breyon Williams 10 Tackles (8 Solo) 1.0 TFL

PC begins its 100th year of football in 2013 and a 100 tackle performer from last year leads the way in Williams PC does lose a lot of experience in the second level with LJ Perry graduating. Antolik, along with his brother Garret along with Breyon and returning LB Isaiah Lynn will likely lead the LBs into battle this year.

VMI

Weston Reber 87 Tackles (25 Solo) 1.0 TFL
Logan Staib 73 Tackles (34 Solo) 7.5 TFL 1 INT
Ty Garvin 66 Tackles (22 Solo) 2.5 TFL 1.0 Sacks

Experience returns for the Runnin Roos, led by top tackler Reber, Staib finished in the top 10 in tackles for loss with his 7.5 last season and Garvin gives some more upperclassmen leadership for what is a very young group


Rankings

Team

1. Coastal Carolina
2. Liberty
3. Gardner-Webb
4. Charleston Southern
5. Presbyterian
6. VMI

Individual

1. Quinn Backus, Coastal Carolina
2. Nick Sigmon Liberty
3. Tanner Burch, G-W
4. Mike McClure Coastal Carolina
5. Scott Hyland, Liberty
6. Donelle Williams, PC
7. Weston Reber, VMI
8. Zack Johnson, CSU
9. Zac Johnston, CSU
10. Logan Staib, VMI

Keep an eye out for Chad Geter at GWU and with G-Webb going to the 3-4, it's entirely within the realm for Pre-Season All-Conference DE Preston Pemasa to be standing up at OLB along within interior backers Burch, Taylor and probably Geter at the opposing OLB spot.

bjtheflamesfan wrote: Will pick up with the linebackers now:


VMI

Weston Reber 87 Tackles (25 Solo) 1.0 TFL
Logan Staib 73 Tackles (34 Solo) 7.5 TFL 1 INT
Ty Garvin 66 Tackles (22 Solo) 2.5 TFL 1.0 Sacks

Experience returns for the Runnin Roos, led by top tackler Reber, Staib finished in the top 10 in tackles for loss with his 7.5 last season and Garvin gives some more upperclassmen leadership for what is a very young group

Staib has a nose for the ball as good as any in the conference, Reber is expected to have an All-conf. type year. OLB/DE Chris Harper will be heard from. William Hyman, Miller Williams, Chris Copeland, Tyler Owens give the Keydets above average depth. No way the sixth best unit in the League.....

When I looked at the stats for this preview, I was a bit concerned with the dropoff from Reber, Staib and Garvin (who combined for almost 1/4 of the teams tackles last year). The five you mentioned, combined for 144 tackles last year so that really stuck out to me as well as the youth of the group as a whole (9 players redshirt sophomore or younger)

Keep an eye on Calvin Bryant for the BUCS. Coach Chadwell is singing his praises so far in camp from the playing and leadership perspective.