Defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Jesse Bobbit is excited about this group! It is not too often you can lose two All-Conference level players (1 to the NFL) and a key part-time starter and feel good about your starting lineup and depth the next season. However, due to injuries the Jacks have created some real depth that allows the transition from Jason Freeman and Isaiah Stalbird to the next guys up to be pretty seamless. There is a great mix of veteran experience and unproven talent in this position group and I am excited to see it play out this season.
Mike
Part of the reason for optimism around the linebacker group is the return to health of #32 Adam Bock (6-1, 225, SR). Even when he came back from injury, Bock was not even close to 100% last season. According to Coach Bobbit, the closest he was to full health was against Montana in the National Championship due to the extended break between the semifinals and the national championship. Still, Bock contributed 65 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 and 2 sacks last season. He now has 344 career tackles, 25 TFL, and 10.5 sacks on his career! He has had a great summer and is heavier, stronger, and faster than ever before. He also returns as a team captain. I asked coach what a player like Bock can still work on because he has been great for so long. He replied that it is all about details now such as hand placement and correct steps. They also want Adam to just “go” this year instead of trying to be “perfect.” Adam loves to be coached hard according to Bobbit and provides a great example to the room.
A player who really improved this spring was #5 Cullen McShane (6-1, 225, SO). McShane has all the talent in the world but it just takes lots of reps sometimes to make everything make sense which allows a player to play free. McShane is now getting to that point. According to Bobbit he has tremendous God given talent for speed, athleticism, and explosiveness. In 13 games, Cullen had 13 total tackles and a forced fumble last season. If Cullen gets on the field, I’d expect him to make some plays. He’s a player that caught my eye during the spring game!
Another player who is really taking strides is #11 Joe Ollman (6-1, 215, SO). Joe was a running back in high school and had never played linebacker before getting to Brookings. He is getting strong and faster and his testing numbers are showing it. He has always been sharp mentally but the physical piece is closer to where it needs to be now. Bobbit says he is doing all the right things and is right there with McShane for playing time.
#42 Anthony Palano (6-1, 211, FR) is just a true freshman but Bobbit thinks he has a bright future. He shared that he is very intelligent, asks lots of questions to ensure he fully understands, and has shown to be strong, fast, and smart already on the field.
Will
The Lawfirm, AKA #29 Graham Spalding (6-2, 215, SR) is back for another year and he has appeared in 53 games for the Jacks! Graham has been in the lineup for 4 years already and seems to make big plays. After sharing time with Jason Freeman the past two years, Spalding has a chance to take the reins at the will position. Even with splitting duty and battling injuries, Spalding still had 35 total tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, and 2 passes defended last season. Bobbit says Graham has become a really good leader and holds guys in the room and on the defense accountable to a high standard. Graham has battled injuries for the past two years and if he can stay healthy he will have a big year! One thing I love about Graham is his passion for special teams. He has been a leader on that group for a number of years and he seems to take great pride in that phase of the game.
A player who knows exactly what he is doing is #40 Aaron Kusler (6-3, 230, SR) according to Bobbit. He has continued to improve and progress in the program. He may not be the fastest of the group but his technique and footwork allow him to make plays. Like Spalding, Kusler provides tremendous effort on special teams. Last season Kusler saw action in 15 games and recorded 13 tackles and had .5 sack. Bobbit believes that Kusler is in contention to start with Spalding and the next few guys on this list.
One of the younger players that I am most excited about is #33 Bryce Johnson (6-3, 210, SO). The kid just oozes talent. Bobbit shared that Bryce had an up and down spring but capped it off with a great spring game where he showed what he can do when he plays fast! Johnson has great speed and a bendy-ness that he works really hard on. Bobbit shared that all the ability is there Bryce just needs to be consistent and he will challenge Spalding to start.
#15 Hudson Metcalf (6-2, 220, JR) joins the program from D2 Colorado Mesa. In two seasons he played in 20 games and had 70 total tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 5 passes defended, and 2 forced fumbles. Bobbit things he brings a big, strong, and physical presence to the group. His length allows him to wrap up and make sound tackles. Bobbit credits him for picking things up quickly and he thinks he will compete with the above mentioned to start at Will.
The Jacks are bringing in two hyper athletic freshmen in #53 Joey Vieth (6-3, 210, FR) and #45 Boden Schiller (6-1, 205, FR) Vieth played cornerback in Omaha in high school but has added 40 lbs since his commitment in the summer of 2023! He’s learning how to play linebacker but he moves really well! Schiller is an explosive athlete from Sioux Valley who starred on the football field and hardwood. Bobbit says he is instinctual and physical and has also gotten bigger this spring and summer.
Sam
A player I think Jackrabbit fans are really forward to seeing this year is #9 Caleb Francl (6-1, 190, SR). He was never 100% healthy last year due to the injury he suffered in 2022 against Iowa and then a variety of other injuries limited his impact throughout the rest of the season. He still finished with 26 total tackles and 1.5 TFL. Bobbit shared that he is getting stronger and that his consistency will continue to improve as he regains health. Francl has tremendous speed and athleticism. I think his first half play against Iowa in 2022 will remain as one of the greatest individual defensive performances I can remember in a game. If he stays healthy, watch out!
Another player who is looking to return to form is #0 Daeton Mcgaughy (6-0, 205, SR) who also battled through injuries in 2023. Daeton has been a special teams demon for years and did a great job of filling in during 2022 and playing as a reserve in 2023. He finished last season with 23 total tackles, 2 TFL, and 2 passes defended. Daeton has the ability to play the Sam and the Will and will compete to start at either. Daeton has great speed and movement skills. His positive attitude is great for the room and Bobbit said that he is a difference maker no matter where he lines up.
A player that gained plenty of hype throughout his true freshman season was #28 Chase Van Tol (6-1, 195, R-FR). Head coach Jimmy Rogers mentioned him repeatedly as someone who was standing out on his radio show and then called him out directly following the spring game as the next “star” linebacker. Bobbit said that he just continues to get better and better. He’s naturally physically which is obviously something you want on your defense. He got a ton of reps during spring ball due to injuries at the position. He’s competing to start and will be part of the rotation even if he doesn’t start. He is going to be counted on to make plays on special teams.
#47 Kytan Fyfe (6-2, 205, SO) continues to get bigger, faster, stronger. He earned “scout player of the week” twice last season. He is earning reps on defense and will be counted on to contribute on special teams this fall.
#37 Carston Reynolds (6-3, 208, FR) and #48 Jack Nash (6-2, 185, FR) are the two incoming freshmen. Both were 3 star recruits with Nash also being named the Alaska Gatorade player of the year in 2022. Bobbit shared that both have tremendous speed and movement skills. Reynolds has already really grown and added weight and is picking up the defense quickly. Bobbit has been impressed with the athleticism and change of direction of Nash and his intelligence.
The future is bright but this group also looks to be a strength of the team once again. The competition for both the SAM and WILL starting spots will be fierce with experienced players like Spalding, Kusler, Mcgaughy, and Francl in place and young guns like Van Tol, McShane, Ollman, Medcalf, and Johnson pushing pushing to get on the field. This will be a fun group to watch in camp and throughout the season!
Go Jacks!
Matt
