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The new look Jayhawks began spring practice on March 24th and the spring game is scheduled for April 25th. Today we will check out the new linebackers coach and see what he has to work with.
The 2015 linebacker corps is led by former Jayhawk captain and NIU Linebackers Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Kevin Kane. Kane will walk the Kansas sidelines for the second time, the first came in 2006-2007 as a GA. In between KU and NIU Kane spent a season as the Defensive Quality Control Assistant at the University of Wisconsin.
As for the roster, the Jayhawks currently list 13 linebackers, including five players who saw playing time last season. Only two players saw significant minutes at the position in Jake Love (Sr.) and Courtney Arnick (Jr.). Love has been limited in spring practice due to injuries. Love and Arnick should be manning the outside this season with Schyler Miles (Jr.) and the oft praised Kyron Watson (So.) competing to work the middle of the field. The remainder of the roster contributed a total of six tackles last year. Look for transfers like Lovell Jones (Jr., 84 tackles, 7 sacks for Coffeyville CC) to push the competition and vie for significant playing time. Without further ado, the current* LB roster:
|
#
|
FULL NAME
|
HT.
|
WT.
|
YR.
|
Notes
|
|
57
|
Jake Love
|
6/1
|
214
|
Sr.
|
7 GS, 11 GP, 4th leading tackler, 3 sacks
|
|
28
|
Courtney Arnick
|
6/2
|
207
|
Jr.
|
Started 5 games, 6th on team in total tackles, 10 tackles at OU, came on late in season
|
|
32
|
Schyler Miles
|
6/2
|
221
|
R-Jr.
|
RS in 2014, Saw action in 10 games in 2013, 3 tackles vs. Baylor
|
|
44
|
Michael Zunica
|
5/11
|
221
|
Jr.
|
9 of 12 games at ST, 1 tackle at reserve LB
|
|
6
|
Kyron Watson
|
6/0
|
235
|
So.
|
Played in 11 games as reserve LB and ST
|
|
50
|
Todd Middleton
|
5/10
|
217
|
Jr.
|
Dodge City CC, 9 games in two years with 11 tackles
|
|
53
|
Lovell Jones
|
6/1
|
226
|
Jr.
|
Coffeyville CC - 84 tackles, 7 sacks
|
|
59
|
Cameron Rosser
|
6/1
|
221
|
Jr.
|
3 games on ST
|
|
37
|
Beau Bell
|
5/11
|
212
|
Sr.
|
Hutchison CC Fr. Transfer, played in 9 games last year
|
|
34
|
Aaron Plump
|
5/10
|
213
|
Sr.
|
Butler CC freshman transfer, played ST in 5 games last year
|
|
29
|
Joe Dineen, Jr.
|
6/2
|
212
|
So.
|
Rushed, passed and tackled in 11 games
|
|
51
|
Blake Flannigan
|
6/2
|
226
|
So.
|
2013 Illinois transfer
|
|
17
|
Josh Ehambe
|
6/3
|
236
|
R-Fr.
|
|
*With transfers, early enrollees, and nearly 30 walk-ons this is an attempt to present a comprehensive list. With all of the new faces in the program, and those to come over the summer, the roster will remain dynamic throughout the offseason.