Linebacker
OLB1: Darrell Taylor, Kivon Bennett, Roman Harrison
ILB1: Daniel Bituli, Shanon Reid, Henry To’oto’o
ILB2: Will Ignont, JJ Peterson, Quavaris Crouch
OLB2: Deandre Johnson, Jordan Allen, Quavaris Crouch
The terminology in Pruitt’s defensive system is much different than what we have listed here, but we wanted to simplify things and simply list the linebacker positions as “outside linebacker” and “inside linebacker.”
Darrell Taylor and Daniel Bituli likely have starting spots locked down at the start of fall camp, but there’s a lot up for grabs in the linebacker room other than those two.
The biggest questions with this group is who will be the other pass rusher opposite Taylor? Deandre Johnson played the most last season after Jonathan Kongbo suffered a season-ending injury, and both he and Kivon Bennett seem to be the two battling for that spot. Jordan Allen is another one to watch.
At the other inside linebacker position, Will Ignont and Shanon Reid have a leg up on the younger players and look to be the two battling for that spot. JJ Peterson could throw a wrench into that battle if he shows up in shape and with a good understanding of the defensive playbook.
The younger players such as Quavaris Crouch, Henry To’oto’o, and Roman Harrison will start out behind the older players, but all three have a very good chance of working their way up the depth chart in fall camp and during the season. Crouch has some versatility and could see time at multiple linebacker spots.
