Are we the REAL Linebacker U? [2010 Season Preview]

Traditionally speaking, of course, Penn State is nicknamed “LBU” by silly pundits and fans of that school. The truth is tOSU has been, for years, been putting out some of the best LBs in college football and they have been doing extremely well in the NFL.

This year is no different and may possibly be one of our deepest positions on the team and maybe one of our best LB crews ever.

The Linebackers:

Ross Homan

Ross Homan

This senior out of Coldwater, Ohio is a tackling machine and is on every defensive awards watch-list. He has the size and speed and is smart enough to anchor the defense and be its leader. He has a lot of skills needed to be a dominant player and uses them to his advantage. Homan is technically sound and has that “knack” of being at the right place at the right time, as evidenced by his five interceptions at opportune times. He also averaged 8.3 tackles per game . He has All-American written all over him and the potential to win at the very least the Butkus Award for best LB in the country.

And he’ll do it all quietly and efficiently, just the way he likes it.

His 2009 statistics were 108 tackles, 5 TFL, 5 INT, and 2 fumble recoveries.


Brian Rolle

This senior out of Immokalee, FL lacks the size at 5’8″ and 218 lbs that is normally needed to be a starting linebacker on a top 10 team. So, why is he starting again this year? Simple answer: his speed, explosiveness and toughness makes up for his lack of size. Fundamentally, he has issues (see: his tackling, especially at the goal line versus Jeremiah Masoli in the Rose Bowl) but he makes up for them with the intangibles. He is a Buckeye in the truest sense of the word. All heart and motor. He may not get the press that Homan does but he should get the accolades All-Big Ten this season.

His little, stumpy legs and oversized melon look out of place out there, but Rolle will simply out hussle you.

His 2009 statistics were 95 tackles, 7 TFL, 1 INT, and 1 fumble recovery.

Etienne Sabino

This guy has all the talent in the world and the size to go with it at 6’3 and 240 lbs. He is a junior out of North Miami, FL. He has been given every chance to win the third LB spot on this years team and in the spring it was almost a sure thing it was his. That was the case until this next LB came along.

Sabino has seen the field in the past and he has been effective on special teams but Buckeye fans are still looking for him to reach the potential that fans and coaches have seen in Etienne. Most linebackers seem come into their own during their junior year and there will still be plenty of opportunities for Sabino to make an impact, but it just seems like his time is limited. He can turn the pressure into winning playing time into a great experience.

His 2009 statistics were: 6 tackles, 0.5 TFL, no interceptions and no fumble recoveries.

Andrew Sweat

Andrew seems to be gaining a lot of traction in his bid to getting the starting nod at LB. Buzz out of practice is that he is getting a lot of time with the first team unit during the Jersey Scrimmage game and now the speculation is this 6’2″ 238 lbs junior out of Washington, PA stud is going to be the starter with Sabino backing him up and pushing him every week. From the sounds of it, it’s less of Sabino performing poorly and more of Sweat impressing coaches with his play.

Sweat saw playing time last season but barely enough to really get a bead on his strengths and weaknesses. From what we saw, his technique and strength seem to be there and he’ll just need game experience to go with it.

His 2009 statistics were: 15 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT and no fumble recoveries.

Dorian Bell

Young Puppy is a red-shirt freshman out of Monroeville, PA and at 6’1″ and 225 lbs he is a pure athlete and probably needs to put on some size but he is young and hungry. He should see time on special teams and in mop up duty in games against Marshall and EMU. With Ohio State’s depth at linebacker, it will be tough for Bell to see the field too often, but

His 2008 High School Statistics 113 tackles, 19 TFL, 7 sacks, 4 forced fumbles as a senior.

These Buckeyes should continue the tradition of Ohio State producing high quality linebackers at all three positions.

Comments

  1. I got an email notification that some retard posted trash talk on an article that’s three months old. hence my response.

  2. Rayloff-

    1. You read the above article.
    2. You were immediately butt hurt at the notion that OSU has better LBers when compared to PSU.
    3. You replied to the article and shared your opinion and in doing so get copied on every post made there after.
    4. OSU then ran for 314 yards against Penn State (LBer WHO?. More evidence that Penn State’s LBers just aren’t that great.
    5. I come back on this post to make fun of Penn State LBers and in turn, PSU fans. Why? Because it’s funny.
    6. I then point out that you told me to “get a life.” A put down made famous by Happy Days star Donnie Most.
    7. You are forever known as Penn State Donnie Most.

    Go get’em tiger!

  3. This is an awesomely classic thread still getting responses 3 months later lol

  4. Bump

  5. hahaha Kade keeping this thread alive šŸ™‚

Leave a Reply to el KaiserCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d bloggers like this: