Position Preview: The Linebackers

AMES, Iowa - Today's Position Preview features the linebackers.

Synopsis
Tyson Veidt's work with the Iowa State linebackers has been remarkable.

For the third season in a row in 2019, Iowa State had all three starting linebackers earn some sort of All-Big 12 recognition. During that run the Cyclones have produced an All-American (Joel Lanning) and a NFL player (Willie Harvey).

The team will have to replace Marcel Spears Jr., who was a stable force as a three-year starter and multi-all-league performer, and Bobby McMillen, a valuable reserve, but most of the unit returns.

A talented pair of juniors who combined for 25 starts in 2019 in Mike Rose (6-3, 240, Jr., Brecksville, Ohio) and O'Rien Vance (6-1, 231, Jr.#, Cedar Rapids, Iowa) are back to lead this group.

Rose has started every game of his outstanding career, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors both seasons. Rose played at Mike as a freshman, but moved over to Sam for his sophomore campaign.

He remained efficient, ranking third on the team in tackles (77) and leading the Cyclones in TFL (9.5). He also had 3.5 sacks, forced a fumble and picked off his first career pass.

The Mike position is where Rose is more comfortable and could move back into the middle next season.

Vance started 12 games and was an honorable mention All-Big 12 choice while taking over at Mike linebacker. There is a chance Vance could slide over to Will next season.

Vance, who had 66 tackles and 9.0 TFL, led the team and ranked sixth in the Big 12 in sacks with 6.5.

Vance showcased a knack for harassing the QB. He recorded all 6.5 sacks in the first five games before a concussion sidelined him in the middle of the season. He also had a team-best eight QB hurries.

Finding a replacement for Spears Jr., who ended his career with 272 tackles and 24.5 TFL, will be a priority, but the Cyclones are in great shape with the return of Jake Hummel (6-1, 228, Sr., Des Moines, Iowa).

Hummel has never started a game at Iowa State, but has played significant snaps as a valuable reserve behind Spears Jr. the last two seasons.

He played 257 snaps from scrimmage in 2019, recording 36 tackles, 4.5 TFL and a pick-six. He has 71 tackles and 8.0 TFL in his career and is more than ready to move into the starting role at Sam linebacker.

The offseason will be important in finding backups to fill out the two-deep and the likely candidates are Gerry Vaughn (5-11, 222, So.#, Atlanta, Ga.) and Aric Horne (6-1, 202, Fr.#, Jacksonville, Fla.).

Vaughn played in all 13 games on special teams last year and will look to be in the rotation in 2019.

Horne played in two games as a true freshman in 2019 and was able to redshirt. He was a top-50 linebacker in the class of 2019.

Kendell Jackson (5-11, 217, So.#, Des Moines, Iowa), a walk-on, and Dae'Shawn Davis (6-0, 225, Fr., Cleveland, Ohio), a mid-year enrollee, will also provide depth.

Campbell On The Linebackers
"I think the thing for me about the three guys (Mike Rose, O'Rien Vance, Jake Hummel) that are coming back, they are very similar in the mold of what we've said with some of our other really good other players. All three of those guys are high-end football players. They've proven that they can play at a really high level, and again, I think they're chasing how great they can become internally. The great question mark for me is what happens after those three guys, and it starts with guys like Gerry Vaughn, Aric Horne and Dae'Shawn Davis. It's going to be really fun to watch. Kendell Jackson is another guy. We've been really good on defense when you have multiple starters on both sides of the football or at each position. I think some of these young guys have great talent, but they're still trying to compete with themselves to prove that. So, it's going to be a really fun race to see what transpires with some of those other guys in the offseason."

Players Mentioned

Dae'Shawn Davis

Willie Harvey

Aric Horne

Jake Hummel

Kendell Jackson

Joel Lanning

Mike Rose

Marcel Spears Jr.

O'Rien Vance

Gerry Vaughn

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics