Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Camp Position Breakdown: Linebackers
8/21/2019 6:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Being forced to find a new starter at middle linebacker has done little to tamper the excitement of head coach Rick Stockstill surrounding the group.
The Blue Raiders have to find an answer for the loss of First Team All-Conference USA middle backer Darius Harris, but returners all around the new starter will make the linebackers a focal point of opposing teams' offensive scouting reports.
Redshirt senior Khalil Brooks, who's eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss away from tying two school records, and DQ Thomas, the team's leader in 2018 with 8.0 sacks, lead the group from the weak and strong sides. In the middle, look for redshirt sophomore Cody Smith and redshirt senior Chris Melton to rotate. Maryland transfer Brett Shepherd will also enter the rotation if he's declared eligible by the NCAA.
"We're coming in with the right attitude and right mindset … and getting better on a day-to-day basis," third-year linebackers coach Siriki Diabate said. "I feel really good about the guys we have in the middle. All of them are doing a great job of improving. … We'll figure out who the guy will be getting the first rep, then we'll do a good job of running a committee so guys are ready to compete."
While the linebacking corps won't have issues getting into the backfield and to the quarterback — Thomas and Brooks led the team in 2018 in sacks and tackles for loss — they want to be more versatile this season.
"We have the TFLs and the sacks, but we're trying to play more sound, like using our hands and stuff like that, and trying to be more physical," Thomas said. "We know we have to be relentless, and we have to make sure we have fun."
Here are the linebackers on the roster:
Returners
Khalil Brooks, 5-11, 206, R-Sr.
• 5th all-time at MT in sacks (14.5) and TFLs (33.5)
• Preseason All-C-USA; two-time Second Team All-C-USA (2017, 2018)
• 68 tackles, 14.5 TFLs (tied for team lead), 6.5 sacks, 14 hurries, 6 pass breakups in 2018
• Atlanta native
DQ Thomas, 6-2, 214, Jr.
• Honorable Mention All-C-USA in 2018
• 8 sacks (team lead, third all-time), 14.5 TFLs (tied team lead), 70 tackles (tied for third) in 2018
• Oxford, Mississippi native
Cody Smith, 6-2, 214, R-So.
• Played in 12 games in 2018; 22 tackles
• Moved from safety to linebacker in spring of 2018
• Stuart, Florida native
Chris Melton, 6-1, 212, R-Sr.
• Played in only 3 games due to injury in 2018; took a redshirt
• Honorable Mention All-C-USA in 2016; led team with 102 tackles
• Leesburg, Georgia native
Avery Jones, 6-0, 234, Sr.
• Played in 12 games with 1 start in 2018
• Golden West College (CA) transfer in 2018
• Anaheim Hills, California native
Wayne Parks, 5-11, 206, R-So.
• Played in 13 games in 2018
• Returned a punt 35 yards for a TD against UT Martin
• Fellsmere, Florida native
Jarek Campbell, 6-0, 207, R-Fr.
• Played in 4 games in 2018, mostly on special teams
• Earned team's most improved linebacker award in the spring
• Murfreesboro native (Riverdale High School)
Cain McWilliams, 6-1, 221, R-So.
• Played in all 13 games in 2018, mostly on special teams
• Led the team with 8 special teams tackles in 2018
• Lewisburg, Tennessee native (Marshall County High School)
Jacob Mahoney, 6-0, 221, R-Fr.
• Took a redshirt in 2018
• Knoxville native (Knoxville Catholic)
Newcomers
Brett Shepherd, 6-4, 230, R-Jr.
• Transferred from Maryland
• Played in 10 games in 2017 at Maryland; left program in August of 2018
• Buford, Georgia native
Raquon Hartley, 6-1, 190, Fr.
• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• Saluda, South Carolina native
Ronnin Wright, 6-1, 200, Fr.
• Blocked two punts, caught fake punt pass TD in a game at Camden County High School (GA)
• 61 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 forced fumbles as a senior
• St. Mary's, Georgia native (attended Camden County High School with Jalen Davis)
Jalen Davis, 6-1, 195, Fr.
• Defensive Player of the Year in Camden County in 2018
• Kingsland, Georgia native (attended Camden County High School with Ronnin Wright)
Andrew Leak, 5-10, 208, Fr.
• Won a state title at Heard County High School (GA) in 2018
• Two-time all-state; set Heard County record with 140 tackles as a junior
• LaGrange, Georgia native
The Blue Raiders have to find an answer for the loss of First Team All-Conference USA middle backer Darius Harris, but returners all around the new starter will make the linebackers a focal point of opposing teams' offensive scouting reports.
Redshirt senior Khalil Brooks, who's eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss away from tying two school records, and DQ Thomas, the team's leader in 2018 with 8.0 sacks, lead the group from the weak and strong sides. In the middle, look for redshirt sophomore Cody Smith and redshirt senior Chris Melton to rotate. Maryland transfer Brett Shepherd will also enter the rotation if he's declared eligible by the NCAA.
"We're coming in with the right attitude and right mindset … and getting better on a day-to-day basis," third-year linebackers coach Siriki Diabate said. "I feel really good about the guys we have in the middle. All of them are doing a great job of improving. … We'll figure out who the guy will be getting the first rep, then we'll do a good job of running a committee so guys are ready to compete."
While the linebacking corps won't have issues getting into the backfield and to the quarterback — Thomas and Brooks led the team in 2018 in sacks and tackles for loss — they want to be more versatile this season.
"We have the TFLs and the sacks, but we're trying to play more sound, like using our hands and stuff like that, and trying to be more physical," Thomas said. "We know we have to be relentless, and we have to make sure we have fun."
Here are the linebackers on the roster:
Returners
Khalil Brooks, 5-11, 206, R-Sr.
• 5th all-time at MT in sacks (14.5) and TFLs (33.5)
• Preseason All-C-USA; two-time Second Team All-C-USA (2017, 2018)
• 68 tackles, 14.5 TFLs (tied for team lead), 6.5 sacks, 14 hurries, 6 pass breakups in 2018
• Atlanta native
DQ Thomas, 6-2, 214, Jr.
• Honorable Mention All-C-USA in 2018
• 8 sacks (team lead, third all-time), 14.5 TFLs (tied team lead), 70 tackles (tied for third) in 2018
• Oxford, Mississippi native
Cody Smith, 6-2, 214, R-So.
• Played in 12 games in 2018; 22 tackles
• Moved from safety to linebacker in spring of 2018
• Stuart, Florida native
Chris Melton, 6-1, 212, R-Sr.
• Played in only 3 games due to injury in 2018; took a redshirt
• Honorable Mention All-C-USA in 2016; led team with 102 tackles
• Leesburg, Georgia native
Avery Jones, 6-0, 234, Sr.
• Played in 12 games with 1 start in 2018
• Golden West College (CA) transfer in 2018
• Anaheim Hills, California native
Wayne Parks, 5-11, 206, R-So.
• Played in 13 games in 2018
• Returned a punt 35 yards for a TD against UT Martin
• Fellsmere, Florida native
Jarek Campbell, 6-0, 207, R-Fr.
• Played in 4 games in 2018, mostly on special teams
• Earned team's most improved linebacker award in the spring
• Murfreesboro native (Riverdale High School)
Cain McWilliams, 6-1, 221, R-So.
• Played in all 13 games in 2018, mostly on special teams
• Led the team with 8 special teams tackles in 2018
• Lewisburg, Tennessee native (Marshall County High School)
Jacob Mahoney, 6-0, 221, R-Fr.
• Took a redshirt in 2018
• Knoxville native (Knoxville Catholic)
Newcomers
Brett Shepherd, 6-4, 230, R-Jr.
• Transferred from Maryland
• Played in 10 games in 2017 at Maryland; left program in August of 2018
• Buford, Georgia native
Raquon Hartley, 6-1, 190, Fr.
• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• Saluda, South Carolina native
Ronnin Wright, 6-1, 200, Fr.
• Blocked two punts, caught fake punt pass TD in a game at Camden County High School (GA)
• 61 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 forced fumbles as a senior
• St. Mary's, Georgia native (attended Camden County High School with Jalen Davis)
Jalen Davis, 6-1, 195, Fr.
• Defensive Player of the Year in Camden County in 2018
• Kingsland, Georgia native (attended Camden County High School with Ronnin Wright)
Andrew Leak, 5-10, 208, Fr.
• Won a state title at Heard County High School (GA) in 2018
• Two-time all-state; set Heard County record with 140 tackles as a junior
• LaGrange, Georgia native
Players Mentioned
LB
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