Spring 2021 Breakdown: Linebackers

Throughout the spring, BGSUFalcons.com will breakdown each position for the 2021 BGSU football program. Today, we take a look at the linebackers.

Part 1 - Tight Ends
Part 2 - Offensive Line
Part 3 - Quarterbacks
Part 4 - Running Backs
Part 5 - Wide Receivers
Part 6 - Special Teams
Part 7 - Defensive Line

Bowling Green, Ohio – Associate head coach and linebackers coach Steve Morrison is entering his third season with the Falcons. At this position, he has the opportunity to build around sophomore Darren Anders, a player who has already earned All-MAC status by Phil Steele early in his career.

Anders, at 6-0 and 235 pounds, has played in 16 games and started six times over the previous two seasons, including every contest in 2020. Anders led the Falcons in tackling last season by averaging 11.0 tackles a game, the most by a Falcon since fellow middle linebacker Dwayne Woods posted 11.2 tackles per game in 2010.

The Falcons have plenty of youth behind Anders as 12 of the other 13 players listed at the position have freshman eligibility.

Brock Horne, a 6-1, 229-pound redshirt freshman, has been receiving a lot reps this spring. He is entering his third year with the program after being a highly sought-after commit. He played in all five games of 2020, recording two tackles at Toledo. Horne redshirted in 2019.

Blaine Spires, a 6-2, 235-pound redshirt freshman from Youngstown adds impressive, young depth for the Falcons. Spires could potentially start this fall. He played in all five games last season, making eleven tackles with two tackles for loss after redshirting in 2019.

Aaron Washington, 6-0, 228, from Atlanta, Ga., is a second-year freshman who did not play in 2020. Washington was a former three-star commit and chose BGSU over Air Force, Appalachian State, Marshall, Buffalo, Central Michigan and Kent State, among others.

Charles Rosser, a former three-star recruit who chose Bowling Green over Rutgers and Akron, is a 6-3, 220-pound freshman from Cleveland, Ohio. Entering his second season, Rosser did not play in 2020 but is practicing well.

Cashius Howell, 6-4, 220 pounds from Kansas City, Mo., is a true freshman who received offers from Arkansas State, Wyoming and a handful of Mid-American Conference schools before deciding on the Falcons and signing in December. Howell has mixed in nicely during spring practice.

Jaylen Lawson, a 6-5, 215-pound linebacker from Lexington, Ky. was announced as part of the 2020 recruiting class but delayed his enrollment. Lawson arrived on campus in January in time for spring practice.

Evan Brown, at 5-10, 212 pounds, originally committed to play baseball coming out of local Anthony Wayne High School. He's entering his fourth year with the football program and provides a unique athletic presence to the linebacker room. He's made two starts and played in 20 games during his career, which is valuable to such a young team.

Diego Neri, 6-2, 225, from Cincinnati, had offers from Air Force, Liberty, Navy and most of the Mid-American Conference before signing in December and enrolling in January, making himself available to compete in spring practice.

Justin Schiets (one game), James Miller (five games), and Brennan Spiess are all third-year redshirt freshman with varying amounts of in-game experience who really help add depth and maturity to another very young unit.

Chris Williams, Fortune Woods, Demetrius Hardamon (one game), and JB Brown (five games) are second-year freshmen with varying amounts of in-game experience who will look to continue to make an impact by improving alongside their young teammates this spring.

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Players Mentioned

Darren Anders

JB Brown

Demetrius Hardamon

Brock Horne

Jaylen Lawson

James Miller

Diego Neri

Charles Rosser

Justin Schiets

Brennan Spiess

Blaine Spires

Aaron Washington

Chris Williams

Fortune Woods

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Recent Results

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