Colorado State’s front five stole the defensive spotlight last season while garnering praise as one of the Mountain West’s premier units in the trenches. However, it wasn’t as if CSU’s linebackers corps failed to attain a dominant level.
Quite the contrary.
With Dequan Jackson and Cam’ron Carter adding another notch of consistency to their dependable belts, the Rams held down the middle of the field with ease.
“Those guys up front are already leading the pack,” Jackson said during an exclusive interview with the Reporter-Herald in May. “With their help, the linebackers can set the tone. We’ve got some talent at linebacker, and we put up good numbers last year. But I’m looking forward to being the reason we win games.”
At least in terms of Jackson and his junior counterpart’s production, many would classify what the veteran modestly categorized as “good” as pretty darn close to great. While chipping into a Rams’ rushing defense which ranked second in the conference, Jackson totaled a team-most 40 tackles and 5.5 takedowns for loss in 2020.
Simultaneously, Carter finished second on the squad in tackles (32) upon matching his teammate’s admirable TFL total (5.5).
Nevertheless, there’s always room for improvement. And given the coronavirus-complicated shuffle of a campaign, the Rams linebackers see plenty. Actually, in light of enjoying an uninterrupted spring camp this time around, they fully expect enhancements.
“A year ago, even the veterans were still learning the new defense,” Jackson said. “With the COVID stuff, we didn’t have enough time to get confident in it. So we couldn’t really teach and advance the younger guys because we were getting to know everything. But now we’re super comfortable. I’m confident in the playbook. I feel like I can teach it to just about anybody.”
Jackson doesn’t merely believe he can teach anybody. Rather, as a team captain, he feels obligated to fulfill leadership duties.
Since materializing as a regular starter in 2019, collective objectives have always reigned supreme for the Florida native.
But a middle linebacker –– commonly known as the quarterback of the defense –– cannot truly orchestrate teammates as intended without a full grasp of the scheme. Well, with the cancellation-plagued season in the rearview mirror, he knows the defense like the back of his hand.
“Every day, that’s my goal; how can I make this team better,” Jackson said. “Especially the defense, especially the linebacker group. I go in there, and I make that a focus each day. Just with mistakes or just small techniques here and there that can help, that’s one of my biggest goals. At the end of the day, it’s about the team. And that’s just something I love to do, especially for the younger guys.”
Speaking of the younger assets, the extent of underclassman progression the Rams produce off the bench could prove differential for the linebacker unit as a whole. Sure, a further breakout from Mohamed Kamara opposite Carter on the outside would pay dividends. Regardless, though the third-year sophomore appears poised to do so, CSU’s starting trio wasn’t the issue in 2020.
If anything, the Rams could have used increased backup competency and a few more reserve options. Luckily for CSU, its entire core of youthful, two-deep rotational backers return after gaining crucial experience last season –– headlined by Bam Amina (11 tackles in three games) and Aaron Moore (seven tackles in four games).
It’s also worth noting how Chase Wilson’s spring emergence should result in the freshman competing for reps. Plus, upping the group’s collective experience, the Rams obtained Murray State graduate Anthony Koclanakis during the offseason –– who could immediately find his way into the mix after leading MSU with 124 takedowns (9.5 for loss) in 2019.
“He’s still learning,” Jackson said. “But he’s around that same level of us, and at the end of the day, he’s going to add competition to the room. And that makes guys work harder and fight for reps.
As an every-down backer, Jackson would stay on the field for eight consecutive quarters if a coach didn’t yank his arm.
Still, the team captain knows refining the back-end of his position group serves the corps’ well, even if that means he has to sit on the bench for a few extra snaps.
“I don’t ever want to come out,” Jackson said. “It’s being a little selfish and a leader of the defense. But now, if I need a quick blow, we’ve got plenty of guys behind me that can get on the field. We’ve got real depth in the room now. We didn’t have that last year.”
Position: Linebackers
Seniors (2020 statistics): Anthony Koclanakis, 6-foot-1, 230-pounds (graduate transfer; didn’t play in 2020).
Juniors: Dequan Jackson, 6-2, 235 (4 starts, 40 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1 QBH); Cam’ron Carter, 6-2, 225 (4 starts, 32 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1 QBH).
Sophomores: Mohamed Kamara, 6-2, 240 (3 starts, 4 games played, 21 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 QBH); Troy Golden, 6-2, 235 (3 games played, 3 tackles, 1 TFL).
Redshirt & second-year freshmen (COVID ruling): Chase Wilson, 6-2, 225 (2 games played); Aaron Moore, 6-1, 215 (4 games played, 7 tackles, 1 TFL); Payton Polson, 6-0, 205, (didn’t play in 2020); Sanjay Strickland, 6-2, 235 (2 games played); Bam Amina, 5-11, 210 (3 games played, 11 tackles); Devon Edwards, 6-1, 220 (didn’t play in 2020); Cade Plath, 6-0, 225 (4 games played, 3 tackles); Tavian Brown, 6-1, 230 (4 games played, 3 tackles, 0.5 TFL); Will Drewes, 6-0, 200 (didn’t play in 2020).
True freshmen: Malakai Grant, 6-0, 210.
Players lost: None.
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