Spring Preview: The Linebackers

AMES, Iowa - What was considered to be a weakness in 2017 turned out to be the total opposite. The Cyclone linebacking crew was outstanding, producing three All-Big 12 players, including Joel Lanning, who also earned All-America honors in his first season at the position.

Lanning was the heart and soul of the team and his leadership and presence will definitely be missed.

However, the unit is in solid hands with the return of honorable mention all-Big 12 players Willie Harvey (6-0, 222, Sr.#, Hastings, Fla.) and Marcel Spears Jr. (6-1, 215, Jr.#, Olathe, Kan.).

The duo combined for 183 tackles, 20.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks and three interceptions last season and will provide valuable experience heading into the spring.

Harvey has 29 starts in his career and has been a staple in the lineup since 2015. The two-time honorable mention all-league choice has 213 tackles, 9.0 sacks and is ISU's active career leader in TFL with 22.0.

The senior was second on the team in TFL (11.5), had 4.0 sacks and started 12 games at Sam linebacker in 2017.

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the team in 2017 was the emergence of Spears at Will linebacker. Spears, who played primarily on special teams in 2016, came out of nowhere to rank second on the team in tackles (107) and record 8.5 TFL in 13 starts.

Spears had two fourth-quarter interceptions to seal victories, including a pick-six at Texas Tech. Twice Spears was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week in 2017 and was the Defensive MVP of the Liberty Bowl after tallying 11 tackles and 2.5 TFL in the victory over Memphis.

Finding a replacement for Lanning at Mike linebacker will be paramount in the spring. The two likely candidates are Tymar Sutton (5-10, 222, So.#, McKeesport, Pa.) and O'Rien Vance (6-1, 235, Fr.#, Cedar Rapids, Iowa).

Sutton played on special teams and had snaps as a reserve in 2017, registering four tackles in 11 games.

Vance, who redshirted last year, was one of the top recruits in Iowa in the class of 2017. He was a two-time Des Moines Register Elite All-State pick with 95 tackles, 14.0 TFL and 7.0 sacks as a senior.

Backups at linebacker will be filled by Reggan Northrup (6-1, 208, Sr.#, Jacksonville, Fla.), Jake Hummel (6-1, 223, So., Des Moines, Iowa) and Bobby McMillen (6-2, 230, Jr.#, Naperville, Ill.).

Northrup played primarily on special teams in 2017, but he has experience. Northrup has seven starts and 88 tackles in his career.

Hummel has tremendous upside. He was the only true freshman to play in over half of the games in 2017, cementing a role as a leader on special teams. He will get his crack at earning quality snaps from scrimmage in the spring.

McMillen has been a special teams star and reserve in his first two seasons in Ames. He registered nine tackles while playing in all 13 games in 2017.

Campbell On The Linebackers
"There is a lot of competition at linebacker. Marcel Spears and Willie Harvey give you anchors. Spears, like David Montgomery on offense, provides you the heartbeat of your football team. You've got a guy like Willie who's played a lot of reps for you. We also have some of these young guys like Jake Hummel, Tymar Sutton, O'Rien Vance, Cordarrius Bailey, and then a veteran that I think people would be mistaken not to talk about in Reggan Northrup. Reggan is a senior who has a lot of experience. He's at the best weight he's ever been at almost 210 right now. He's a guy that can run, is physical, and is healthy for the first time in his career since we've been here. I think there's a lot of competition right now. You've got Bobby McMillen as an older guy, and you've got Rory Walling, a walk-on who has really flashed and shown impressive things. There is a lot of competition for playing time amongst that group and I think we are the most athletic we've certainly been since we've been here. That is really exciting."

Players Mentioned

Cordarrius Bailey

Willie Harvey

Jake Hummel

Joel Lanning

David Montgomery

Reggan Northrup

Marcel Spears Jr.

Tymar Sutton

O'Rien Vance

Rory Walling

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics