For the past two seasons Alex Lewis and Jeff Mack have been staples in the Wisconsin Badgers' linebacking unit, but their graduation has given new Defensive Coordinator Bret Bielema what would seem to be a tough task in replacing two playmakers.
Senior-to-be Kareem Timbers is expected to be one of the starters after starting seven games last season and recording 21 tackles, but a trio of talented and impressive young linebackers have been getting the majority of the playing time this spring. Bielema has not come out and said who is going to start, as many things can still happen during the spring and fall practices.
\He hasn't told us who is going to start, as in the fall, but right now it has been me, LaMarr (Watkins) and Paul (Joran) that have been playing with the ones lately and getting along pretty good,"" sophomore-to-be Reggie Cribbs said.
Cribbs redshirted the 2002 season and saw limited action in his freshman campaign, but was highly recruited out of Hubbard High School in Illinois. Cribbs was twice a first-team All-State selection and at 6'1' and 225 pounds, Cribbs has the size and strength to compete in the Big Ten.
Cribbs, sophomore-to-be Joran, sophomore-to-be Mark Zalewski and junior-to-be Elliott Goode also find themselves in a battle for two of the linebacker positions. Like Cribbs, Joran did not see much playing time as a freshman, but was the UW scout team defensive player of the year two years ago when he was a redshirt. Zalewski made significant contributions as a special teams player and as a backup linebacker last season. Goode was a reserve linebacker but has seen action in 26 games with the special teams unit.
Watkins, a junior-to-be, started six games at outside linebacker when he was a freshman and tallied 41 tackles that season in addition to one interception. Last season Watkins had 18 tackles in seven games played. Watkins is joined by Timbers, junior-to-be Dontez Sanders and senior T.J. Wielebski as the only other outside linebackers.
Incoming freshman Joe Walker from Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay was named Associated Press State Player of the Year in Wisconsin and could also contribute early on if he is not redshirted.
With so many talented players vying for only a few starting positions, the competition is fierce this spring, but Cribbs believes that the competition for the final openings will ultimately help the players.
""Competition is always good. If you know somebody is behind your back, you are just going to work that much harder,"" Cribbs said.
Bielema seems to have also had a positive impact on the players this spring.
""He is very excited, very aggressive, very enthusiastic about playing and that rubs off on us,"" Cribbs said.
The speed of Lewis and the strength of Mack would be difficult for any team to replace in a matter of just one year, but the overall ability of all the young linebackers seems to make that position another strong point of the Badger defense.
""We are learning our strengths. We are learning together as a group and I think that is the best thing since we are all young,"" Cribbs said.
