A Look at the SFA Linebackers
8/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 28, 2006
NACOGDOCHES - Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack linebackers took probably the biggest hit of any position due to graduation this past season, losing honorable mention All-America selection Ryan Luedecke. Luedecke posted a career year leading the Southland Conference in tackles with 113, which led to postseason All-America recognition. Despite the loss, the Lumberjacks are excited about the talent level returning.
"We've got a lot of young guys playing new positions," said SFA defensive coordinator and linebackers coach J.C. Harper. "But we've added speed to the position and these guys have a knowledge of the position, they just don't have the actual game experience that other teams have right now."
Just because the Lumberjacks are loaded with youthful talent at the position, don't be fooled into thinking that the well is completely dry on veteran leadership. Senior Kenneth Boley returns for his final season in a purple and white uniform, along with sophomore Jonathan Patke, who would have figured into the starting rotation last season until an injury prematurely ended his season.
The Lumberjacks will go with a six-man rotation at linebacker, which will include Patke and classmate Damian Perkins as the starters heading into the season-opener at Tulsa. Also included in the mix will be Boley, sophomores Brian Ford and Todd Pennington and junior Bug Aymond.
Patke was being counted on to be a major contributor in 2005 before an injury cheated him out of the 2005 season. Perkins is making the jump to linebacker this season after opening the 2005 season as the starting tailback.
"Patke would have started for us some last year," said Harper. "But his season was really slowed by injuries. He's had a great fall camp and we expect him to make an impact this year.
"Damian Perkins is a guy that we feel is just going to be unblockable. He's been a running back so he understands who gets the ball and knows how to go out there and tackle the ball carrier. I really see him as a guy that is going to be around the ball an awful lot," added Harper.
Boley is 6-1, 232-pound athlete who started six games for the Lumberjacks last season and finished fifth on the team in tackles with 47. He also recorded 5.5 tackles for a loss. Regardless of his stats, Boley brings an intangible quality to the field that few other athletes share. There will be no situation that can rattle Boley that life has not already thrown his way, having served seven years in the United States Army and U.S. National Guard. During his time in the military, he also served seven months in Afghanistan as a part of Operation: Enduring Freedom.
Sophomore Brian Ford was a huge surprise for the 'Jacks in 2005. Ford is a 6-2, 224-pound talent from Calvert High School. Just one season earlier, Ford was playing six-man football and in 2005 was a key figure in the Lumberjacks' defense. Entering fall camp bigger and stronger, fans should expect even more improvement from Ford this season.
Coming from a strong football bloodline, Aymond comes to Nacogdoches from Houston North Shore High School where he played for his father, David. Aymond is making the switch from the secondary to linebacker for his junior season.
"I really think there are three guys that can make a jump on the field similar to what Luedecke did last year," said Harper. "Bug is one of those guys. He is extremely talented and just understands the game."
Six-foot, 222-pound Van, Texas native Todd Pennington is another member of a long list of sophomores that was forced into action during their rookie season last year and came up with some big plays. Pennington worked his way into the starting lineup in the third game of the season and was putting together a solid year until an injury put a stop to the season. After being slowed by the injury bug during fall camp, Pennington looks poised to improve upon a 2005 season that saw him finish with 25 tackles, including 4.5 for losses, 2.5 sacks and an interception.
As fans look ahead to the 2006 season, the X factors for the SFA linebackers could be Aymond and Perkins. Just because they are learning a new position this fall, don't allow that to cloud your judgment. Opposing offensive coordinators need only think back to 2005 when they were faced with the unenviable task of trying to stop league-leading tackler Ryan Luedecke. They don't need to be reminded that Luedecke also switched positions during fall camp to play linebacker.
