Linebacker Limelight: Ohio State’s NFL-Style Battle for Experience and Excellence in the Trenches

A linebacker is seldom named near the top of anyone’s list when discussing the most significant player(s) or position(s) on a football field or team, at least in terms of influencing the outcome of a game.

When Team A or Team B struggles and/or loses, linebackers are usually called out or made fun of for it, but they rarely get any credit when their team wins. While many people admire players like Ray Lewis, not many see even the best linebackers as franchise players or extremely influential players who can change the course of a game.

For proof of this, look no farther than Ohio State’s most recent national championship squad: Joshua Perry, a middle linebacker, led the 2014 Buckeyes in tackles with 124, although he is hardly ever, if ever, listed as one of the top five players or “heroes” from that championship-winning team. Hearing Zeke, Cardale, J.T., Bosa, or Bell is significantly more likely.

Although Darron Lee (an LB) has a case to be made as well, it essentially validates my position, doesn’t it? Despite having 33 more stops than Bell, the second-leading tackler for OSU, Perry’s name does not seem to be as revered as those of the aforementioned group.

I realize most ardent fans have pleasant memories of Perry, but you get the idea. If nothing else, let’s acknowledge that during his incredible career, the No. 37 jersey was not exactly a best-seller.

In summary, I believe that linebackers are consistently underpaid and/or underappreciated. And with that said, I would like to argue that one of the more interesting narratives of Ohio State’s forthcoming spring practice(s) will center around the LB position struggle. Please make me laugh.

Regarding OSU football specifically, Will Howard’s progress as a quarterback is and will undoubtedly remain Columbus’s biggest story. However, I think the team’s LB battle—LB2, specifically—should not be far behind, especially with Cody Simon in tow.

In addition to having to replace two seasoned starters, Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers, the Buckeyes also have a very limited depth pool of players to choose from and must accomplish this assignment under the direction of a first-time full-time position coach.

Additionally, I believe that having two players in the middle of the field who are both aware of what they are seeing and doing is quite crucial, despite the fact that some may downplay the significance of the LB position.

The Buckeyes currently have two fairly comparable groupings of guys to pick from who may eventually fill the open LB role (or roles, you never know): It’s not ideal to have both people with little and no experience, is it?

Third-year athletic wonder Sonny Styles appears to be the front-runner for the place alongside Simon, but there’s the minor, tiny problem that Styles is now categorized as a safety.

Not only that, but when questioned about shifting styles to LB on a regular or full-time basis, Ohio State coaches have shown a lack of commitment.

Yes, in theory, Styles as LB2 sounds fantastic. However, as of February 29th, he is essentially a safety with minimal experience playing in the LB position.

Ohio’s top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2022, C.J. Hicks, is another third-year athlete who has been considered a possible starting LB for the Buckeyes.

Hicks, a genuine, natural LB, was ranked as the No. 2 player at his position out of high school, leading many to believe that he was bound for stardom in Columbus. Nevertheless, Hicks hasn’t done much to boost self-assurance in the first two seasons.

That is not to argue that the native of Dayton is deserving of censure in any way. Regretfully, Hicks has been LB4, 5, or 6 on a depth chart that is hardly ever used higher than No. 3. For the previous two seasons, Eichenberg, Chambers, and Simon controlled all of the snaps at the position, giving Hicks and others little but scraps.

Furthermore, the latter appeared raw, green, out of place, flat-footed—you name it—when he did, infrequently, see the field. When a player receives a few game reps once a month, that’s what occurs!

Kourt Williams, Gabe Powers, Arvell Reese, and perhaps even Garrett Stover are other candidates for an LB position. This indicates that we are discussing a true freshman, a hybrid athlete who may or may not play LB, a third-year player who has even fewer competitive reps than Hicks, and a fifth-year player who has regrettably never been able to remain healthy. How, therefore, is the LB not extremely fascinating?

I could make the case that things at the position seem really hopeless if I wanted to. I will not now, as I happen to have a lot of faith in Hicks, Styles, and James Laurinaitis, the new LB coach. I will, however, point out that you are living in a fantasy land if you see this position group with anything other than fascination and/or wonder. Folks, we are really embarking on a journey into the vast unknown!

Although Laurinaitis is a first-time position coach, which adds to the mystery, he essentially filled the post last year while simultaneously handling other duties. Thus, I’m not really concerned about it. But if I claimed that Styles, Hicks, or any of the others were a given, I would be lying. They’re not. This position war would not be nearly as intriguing otherwise.

The bad backers stick out like sore thumbs, while the good ones go unnoticed. Fans of OSU have also witnessed both plays in The Shoe. Underachievers receive a lot of flak, and there’s a good chance that Styles, Hicks, and other players may eventually have to face the same fate. They can get jeers from their home crowd or dumb, naive statements on social media. Although I would never wish that on a single Buckeye, that is the reality of the world in which we all live.

Putting aside their foolishness, I hope these linebacker boys just play with all of their minds. However, it is by no means a given, which is why I am eager to begin tracking the position struggle in less than a week. While it’s interesting to see who is expected to start at tight end or right tackle, I would much rather watch or hear about the next Ryan Shazier.