Issues to Resolve in Fall Camp: Starting Linebackers

(Getty Images)

Fall Camp kicks off today as the Bears formally begin their journey to live up to high preseason expectations and earn the elusive bid for the Rose Bowl. Some have even slotted the Bears as darkhorse candidates for a national championship, but there is no doubt that the team’s focus headed into the season is to win the Pac-10 conference outright. While the Bears are led by a veteran defense and Heisman candidate Jahvid Best, there are a number of questions that will need to be resolve during fall camp with all units in order for the Bears to step up and realize a truly magical season. I’ll be breaking them down in the coming days, and start by looking at who might be slotted as the starting linebackers coming opening day.

Linebackers – Who will be the starting four?

The biggest question mark on the defensive side of the ball centers around which linebackers will step up to replace the void left by three senior linebackers in Worrell Williams, Anthony Felder, and Zack Follett. With Cal returning its entire starting secondary and defensive line, it’s no wonder that many pundits find themselves looking at the critical linebacker spots as the biggest potential weak spots for what is expected to be one of the best defenses in the nation.

I for one am quietly optimistic however. Cal’s most versatile linebacker Mike Mohamed returns after a solid sophomore season after recording 3 interceptions (1 returned for a TD), 2 pass breakups, 3 sacks, 3 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble and fumble recovery, 6 tackles for a loss, and 81 total tackles (51 solo). Mohamed’s sophomore numbers are better than any of the sophomore campaigns of the aforementioned departed linebackers with the exception of the number of TFLs that Follett had his sophomore year. Still, one can easily see that Mohamed should challenge for serious all-conference honors this year as the veteran leader of the linebacking corps.

(Getty Images)

One big storyline to pay attention to is the continued development of sophomore linebacker Mychal Kendricks. The uber talented LB has the chance to be one of the best the school has seen, as evidenced by the fact that he played as a 17 year old true freshman. That says a great deal when one considers the senior linebackers he played next to. Many speculate that Kendricks might be the most talented linebacker of the bunch. While Kendricks had a quiet year with just 15 tackles and 1 sack, a full season of experience under his belt can spell great things for a Bears defense.

With Mohamed and Kendricks firmly entrenched in the middle linebacker spots, the bigger questions fall to the outside linebacker positions.


Eddie Young returns as the only “true” starting linebacker on the outside. Young hasn’t displayed the instinctiveness or athleticism that would jump out to you, but played his assignments well and had a quiet but solid 08 season posting 40 tackles, 1 int, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. I expect bigger and better things from Young in his second year as a starter, and final one with the Bears.

The other question mark lies with Devin Bishop who is tentatively slotted as the other starting linebacker opposite of Young. The younger brother of former Cal LB great Desmond Bishop, Devin enters his senior season with the Bears with just one year of FBS level experience and 13 total tackles. In limited time last year, Bishop did well enough to be used in certain goal line situations.

The biggest questions though, are whether both Young and Bishop will show enough improvement to keep their starting spots, or whether one of the incoming JC transfers in Jarred Price or Ryan Davis might overtake them on the depth chart. While both seem serviceable in their roles, the coaching staff is undoubtedly looking for an outside linebacker who might come close to being as much of a playmaker on the outside as Follett was.

Davis or Price might fit the bill.

As a four star recruit, Jarred Price brings wide receiver 4.5 forty speed and a series of accolades. The Blinn College prospect was named the Southwest Junior College Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year and rated the 22nd best JC player by Rivals. Price has also showed a penchant for making plays in the backfield, recording 24 sacks in his senior season at Madison.

Ryan Davis is another intriguing prospect. The three star prospect measures in at a whopping 6’4, 250 pounds, and has shown the potential to be huge playmaker for the Bears. In his sophomore season at Cerritos City College, Davis recorded 32 tackles, including 11 for a loss, 5 sacks, and three fumble recoveries.

Another darkhorse candidate is Chris Little who made an impact during the final spring practice with a number of sacks and tackles for loss, including a devastating hit on QB Beau Sweeney which forced a pick six. A converted DB who originally played linebacker in high school, Little has a chance to be a playmaker for Cal depending on his continued progress in fall camp.

It will be interesting to follow the position battles throughout camp. Will Mychal Kendricks fully blossom as a full time starter and tap into his highly touted potential? How will Mohamed respond as he settles into one linebacker role? Will either Davis or Price replace Young or Bishop in one or both of the OLB spots? How will Chris Little figure into the mix?

My money is on a starting linebacking unit consisting of Mohamed, Kendricks, Young and Bishop to begin the season, with either Davis or Price moving into the starting mix (likely taking Bishop’s spot) after a few games. I suspect that it will take both Davis and Price some time to get fully comfortable playing the 3-4 at Cal, but I think both are too athletic to keep off the field for long. Don’t be surprised to see Price lining up as a DE in some situational downs as well. Expect Little to get in some time in a reserve role, but making an occasional play in his limited time.