Strength of the Unit: Outside Linebackers

8/21/2015 7:25:00 PM | Football

As we gear up for the 2015 James Madison football season, presented by CarMax, JMUSports.com will be producing positional features known as the "Strength of the Unit." In the eighth installment, we highlight the outside linebackers, who are led by assistant head coach John Bowers in his second season with the Dukes.

The 2015 unit has one returning starter coming back from injury and two others key letterwinners who will lead the outside linebackers this season after losing the top-two tacklers from the 2014 group.

"The biggest thing we're trying to accomplish with the outside linebackers is that they've got to be guys that are threats," Bowers said. "I hope to goodness that quarterback is nervous about where we're lining up. I hope the left and right tackles are concerned about us and concerned about us coming off the edges. We're in a great position to affect the run game and have a big effect on the pass game, whether we're dropping or whether we're rushing the passer."

Returning from a season-ending injury a year ago is redshirt senior Ascene Jacques. In his seven appearances (five starts) in 2014, he tallied 33 tackles (18 solo) and recorded 5.0 tackles for loss. Jacques' season was highlighted in the home-opening win over Saint Francis, in which he made a career-high 10 tackles to go with 1.5 tackles for loss.

Redshirt sophomore Andrew Ankrah is back after he recorded 18 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season. He tallied a career-high six tackles twice and made 2.0 sacks in the regular-season finale against Elon, while accruing his other 1.5 sacks in the Towson win at home.

Moving from safety to linebacker is redshirt sophomore Justin Wellons, who had 14 tackles as a freshman. He was presented with the Challace McMillin Award, which is given annually to the program's top special teams player.

"We moved Justin from safety to linebacker and he had a really productive spring for us," Head Coach Everett Withers said. "He will be a guy to help us there with Ascene coming off a mid-season injury. We also have Andrew, who is our hybrid linebacker/defensive end; he also had a really productive spring."

Also back in 2015 is sophomore David Ezeagwu and redshirt sophomore Brett Siegel.

Joining the Dukes' OLBs this season are a quartet of freshmen in Marquis Culver, Nyck Grayson, Kirk Robinette and Steve Smallwood, all of whom were high school All-Americans.

Early next week, we'll feature the specialists in the ninth of 11 "Strength of the Unit" installments.

Outside Linebackers Breakdown
Returners:
R-Sr. Ascene Jacques – 33 TKL (18 SOLO), 5.0 TFL
R-So. Andrew Ankrah – 18 TKL (10 SOLO), 3.5 TFL, 3.5 SACK
So. David Ezeagwu – 6 TKL
R-So. Brett Siegel

Transitioning to OLB from Another Position:
R-Jr. Justin Wellons (S) – 14 TKL (7 SOLO)

Newcomers:
Fr. Marquis Culver
Fr. Nyck Grayson
Fr. Kirk Robinette
Fr. Steve Smallwood

Players Lost:
Rhakeem Stallings – 80 TKL (39 SOLO), 1.5 TFL, 1.5 SACK, 2 FF, 1 FR, 2 PBU
Titus Till – 47 TKL (24 SOLO), 3.5 TFL, 1.0 SACK, 2 FF, 2 PBU