NCAA Football
Who is ‘Linebacker U?’
When Penn State’s Dan Connor and USC’s Keith Rivers are chosen in this year’s NFL Draft, they will continue a tradition that has entrenched their schools as two of the preeminent linebacker-producing schools in the country.
JoePa’s program has had such a propensity for producing first-rate linebackers, the school is one of several that have earned the nickname “Linebacker U,” and Connor is only the latest to come down the line.
Last year, Paul Posluszny was drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills after twice being named an All-American and Bednarik Award winner. And next in line is Sean Lee, who some will no doubt call one of the greatest Nittany Lion linebackers of all time.
The names of great Penn State linebackers is a who’s who of college football defensive greats: LaVar Arrington, Brandon Short, Mark D’Onofrio, Andre Collins, Shane Conlan, and of course, Jack Ham.
Certainly, any conversation about linebacker-producing schools has to have Happy Valley in the mix. But it doesn’t end there.
The USC Trojans have an extremely storied history as a top-flight linebacker producing school as well. Rivers is expected to go in the first round of this year’s draft, and he’s the latest to become a star in the storied #55, following Junior Seau, Willie McGinest, and Chris Claiborne, who all rank among legendary USC linebackers, along with Richard Wood, Chip Banks, and current Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio, to name a few, along with current Seahawks star Lofa Tatupu. The 2009 draft could see a pair of Trojans, Brian Cushing and Ray Mauluga, go in the first round as well.
But perhaps the school with the biggest stake to the claim “Linebacker U”, is the Miami Hurricanes. In fact, some may argue that the Hurricanes have produced more and better linebackers than either USC or Penn State.
When you look at the names, there certainly is an argument: Ray Lewis, Jon Beason, Michael Barrow, Darrin Smith, Jessie Armstead, Nate Webster, Dan Morgan, DJ Williams, Jonathan Vilma and Rocky McIntosh all hail from “The U.”
That list includes four first rounders, four Pro Bowlers and two MVPs.
Of course, being hailed as THE university for a particular position is all relative. The Hurricanes have also been called “Quarterback U,” but what about USC? Or, to some extent, Notre Dame? Every major college program produces so many NFL-caliber players, almost by default they will send on any number of elite players from a particular position. USC is also known as ‘Tailback U,’ having produced five Heisman Trophy-winning running backs starting with Mike Garrett in 1965 to Reggie Bush 40 years later.
For a time during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Texas A&M was being called “Linebacker U” after producing players such as Quentin Coryatt, John Roper, Aaron Wallace, Marcus Buckley and Dat Nguyen.
Since then, the moniker has tapered off and is moving on to schools like USC and now Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have produced the likes of Na’il Diggs, Andy Katzenmoyer, AJ Hawk, Mike Vrabel, Steve Tovar, Lorenzo Styles, and current star James Laurinaitis.
But they have also shown a knack for producing great corners (Shawn Springs, Antoine Winfield, Nate Clements, Ahmad Plummer, Malcolm Jenkins).
Anytime you declare a team “Position U,” you’re going to be second-guessed by countless devotees to a particular college.
Penn State is Linebacker U?
Tell that to Georgia Bulldog fans, who have seen the likes of Randall Godfrey, Kendrell Bell, Charlie Clemons, Boss Bailey, David Pollack, Odell Thurman, and Thomas Davis play between the hedges.
Or Virginia? Take Jamie Sharper, Chris Slade, James Farrior or Darryl Blackstock.
Florida State? How about Peter Boulware, Henri Crockett, Sam Cowart, Reinard Wilson, Marvin Jones, Derrick Brooks, or Ernie Sims.
So, who is truly “Linebacker U?” I’ll leave that to you to decide.
Related posts on The Red Zone Report
Find all of our 2008 NFL and College Football Previews in our Preview Section!
Go to the Front Page
Discussion
12 comments for “Who is ‘Linebacker U?’”
Post a comment
Categories
Recent Posts
i am a huge USC fan having watched greats come in and out from my TV at home and in the aluminum bleachers in the east endzone, but i think its safe to say even as an LA boy, that The “U” has the top spot at the LB position, then us. Theres nothing wrong with silver. p.s. u forgot recent probowler Lofa Tatupu
There were a number of linebackers I’m sure I left off for a lot of schools. That’s what’s great about these types of discussions. You’ll always have a fan of a particular program say “Hey, what about this guy?!” You raise me with Tatupu, I call with Junior Seau. The list could go on and on…
true that…i look like a horses patoot…j/k, but that is the reality.
wait..jr seau is already on there
How can you put together an article and list PSU linebackers and not mention Jack Ham? Maybe the best Pro LB of all time.
Who is Linebacker “U”?
USC has a first ballot HOF’er in Seau and Tatupu is halfway to the HOF after only three years on the job.
USC has 13 Pro Bowl Linebackers:
Seau: 12 consecutive Pro Bowls
Chip Banks: four Pro Bowls NFL ROY
Clay Matthews: four pro bowls
Lofa Tatupu: three consecutive Pro bowls; NFL Defensive ROY
Frank Buncom: three Pro Bowls; Pro Bowl MVP
Jerry Shipkey: three consecutive Pro Bowls, two as linebacker
Rod Martin: two consecutive Pro Bowls
Willie McGinest: two Pro Bowls
Duane Bickett: one Pro Bowl; NFL Rookie of the Year; AP Defensive ROY
Jack Del Rio LB: one Pro Bowl; Saints ROY
David Lewis: one Pro Bowl
Tim Rossovich: one Pro Bowl
Charlie Weaver: one Pro Bowl
USC has eight linebackers drafted first round:
Chris Claiborne
Willie McGinest
Junior Seau
Duane Bickett: NFL Rookie of the Year; AP Defensive ROY
Chip Banks: AP Defensive ROY
Clay Matthews
Tim Rossovich
Marlin McKeever
This Rivers will probably be the next one; followed by Cushing and Maualuga next year.
USC has had 63 linebackers drafted: more than any other school. As noted above, Rivers will be drafted this year, as will Williams; so add two more to the total. For 2009, Maualuga, Cushing, Maiava, and Matthews will all be drafted.
USC has 22 linebackers that achieves first team AA honors. This total will move up considerably after the next two years.
If it isn’t clear to you now; it never will be.
Who is Linebacker “U”?
USC has a first ballot HOF’er in Seau and Tatupu is halfway to the HOF after only three years on the job.
USC has 13 Pro Bowl Linebackers:
Seau: 12 consecutive Pro Bowls
Chip Banks: four Pro Bowls NFL ROY
Clay Matthews: four pro bowls
Lofa Tatupu: three consecutive Pro bowls; NFL Defensive ROY
Frank Buncom: three Pro Bowls; Pro Bowl MVP
Jerry Shipkey: three consecutive Pro Bowls, two as linebacker
Rod Martin: two consecutive Pro Bowls
Willie McGinest: two Pro Bowls
Duane Bickett: one Pro Bowl; NFL Rookie of the Year; AP Defensive ROY
Jack Del Rio LB: one Pro Bowl; Saints ROY
David Lewis: one Pro Bowl
Tim Rossovich: one Pro Bowl
Charlie Weaver: one Pro Bowl
USC has eight linebackers drafted first round:
Chris Claiborne
Willie McGinest
Junior Seau
Duane Bickett: NFL Rookie of the Year; AP Defensive ROY
Chip Banks: AP Defensive ROY
Clay Matthews
Tim Rossovich
Marlin McKeever
This Rivers will probably be the next one; followed by Cushing and Maualuga next year.
USC has had 63 linebackers drafted: more than any other school. As noted above, Rivers will be drafted this year, as will Williams; so add two more to the total. For 2009, Maualuga, Cushing, Maiava, and Matthews will all be drafted.
USC has 22 linebackers that achieved first team AA honors. This total will move up considerably after the next two years.
If it isn’t clear to you now; it never will be.
It isn’t up for debate.
Penn State was named Linebacker U by the National media due to having a large number of linebackers drafted. That was in the mid 70s. It had been going on since 1962. The 70s sealed the deal, 21 were drafted from the 1970 through the 1979 drafts. That doesn’t count the ones prior to 1970 or in the drafts after.
In total there have been 55 linebacker drafted. And they have been honored with a great many being All Americans, and Academic AA.
Either USC or Ohio State are #2 in number drafted. The reporter that started it all was amazed 1970 there were four (PSU played 4 LBers then) The next year they were followed by one LBer Jack Ham. I think most have heard of him, NFL
Hof.
As for Miami sorry they have half as many as PSU.
List:
Bill Saul
Dave Robinson
Ralph Baker
John Runnels
Dennis Onkotz
John Ebersole
Don Abbey
James Kates
Jack Ham
Charles Zapiel
Jim Laslavic
Bruce Bannon
John Skorupan
Ed O¹Neil
Doug Allen
Tom Hull
Chris Devlin
Dave Graf
Greg Buttle
Kurt Allerman
Ron Crosby
Randy Sidler
Tom DePaso
Ron Hostetler
Rich Milot
Matt Millen
Lance Mehl
Larry Kubin
Gene Gladys
Chet Parlavecchio
Rich D’Amico
Walker Lee Ashley
Scott Radecic
Rogers Alexander
Shane Conlan
Don Graham
Bob White
Bob Ontko
Quintus McDonald
Keith Karpinski
Andre Collins
Mark D’Onofrio
Keith Goganious
Andre Powell
Rich McKenzie
Eric Ravotti
Rob Holmberg
Phil Yeboah-Kodie
Brian Gelzheiser
Terry Killens
LaVar Arrington
Brandon Short
Paul Posluszny
Tim Shaw
In the current game, UM is clearly tops. Two of the top three tacklers in the NFL this year were Canes (Jon Beason and DJ Williams). Another is a future HOFer (Ray Lewis). Two more are recent Pro Bowlers (Jon Vilma and Dan Morgan), and another two are starters (Nate Webster and the rising Roger McIntosh).
Historically, people seem to forgetting that one of the greatest LBs in NFL history hailed from the U: Ted Hendricks.
Instead of trying to decide whether UM is QB U, RB U, WR U, TE U, DT U, LB U, or S U, it is easier to just call them NFLU.
Great arguments, all of you. And this is one of my points of the article. Many schools have arguments for their particular “postitions.” The Quiet Man has made a great argument for USC, CH for Penn State. I’m claiming recent Miami history has a stake in the argument, as does Florida St.
For those who are interested in great college linebackers and one of the All-Time greatest hits, do a video search (either You Tube or Google) on Quentin Coryatt and “The Hit.” It occured in about 1989 on a Thursday night game against TCU. The hit broke the receiver’s jaw and, if I remember correctly, ended his playing days. Sports Illustrated called it the Hit of the Year. It’s a little old and the video is grainy, but well worth the look.
USC has had 63 Linebackers Drafted, count them:
Dallas Sartz
Oscar Lua
Darnell Bing
Lofa Tatupu
Marcus Steele
Zeke Moreno
Chris Claiborne: first round
Brian Williams
Jeff Kopp
Willie McGinest: first round
Lamont Hollinquest
Kurt Barber
Scott Ross
Junior Seau: first round
Marcus Cotton
Ron Brown
Joe Cormier
Garrett Breeland
Duane Bickett: first round
Jack Del Rio
Keith Browner
August Curley
Riki Ellison
Chip Banks: first round
Steve Busick
Eric Scoggins
Larry McGrew
Dennis Johnson
Garry Cobb
Clay Matthews first round
Mario Celotto
Dave Lewis
Eric Williams
Rod Martin
Richard Wood
Dale Mitchell
Monte Doris
Jimmy Sims
Charles Anthony
Willie Hall
Kent Carter
Charlie Weaver
Greg Slough
Jimmy Gunn
Tim Rossovich first round
Adrian Young
Chip Oliver
Jim Ferguson
Ray May
Jeff Smith
Ed King
Frank Buncom
Marlin McKeever first round
Al Bansavage
Mike Henry
Karl Rubke
George Timberlake
Bob Peviani
Pat Cannamela
Don Burke
Walter McCormick
Bob Hoffman
The last time I checked 63 > 55.