Destruction on Parade

You saw a little glimpse of it in 2006 -- the raw destruction that is Mike "God of Thunder" Rivera tracking down a ball carrier. It happened 90 times in 2006, but I'm not sure the Big 12 football world is quite ready for the anger storm that Rivera and his Hell's Angels linebacking crew are about to rain down on opponents in 2007. Here's a quick laundry list of why this will be KU's best unit in 2007:

• Even minimal improvement in play by the secondary and defensive line will free up this talented crew to wreck havoc. If the d-line comes on strong, hide the women and children.
• A full year of playing experience will mean these guys will be thinking less and moving by instinct
• These guys have been talked about for years, they're ready to deliver
• The unit has a legacy to uphold. The power of Gabe Toomey is with them.
• Ten months to think about that brutal loss to Mizzou

The fact that Rivera, Joe Mortenson and James Holt are the likely starters doesn't really mean too much. We'll see a lot of Brandon Duncan (assuming he is injury-free) and Jake Schermer. Some fans felt Schermer was maybe a little bit slower than the rest of the corp, but all five are solid Big 12 type linebackers. The more fascinating possibilities involve the switch of Olaitan Oguntodu to LB and three-star recruit Drew Dudley. Oguntodu played in the secondary last year and has impressive speed. I'd like to see him blitzing from the edge in passing situations. Perhaps he'll be a little better in his drops as well.

Dudley has been mentioned by the coaching staff as a possibility to play as a true freshman. That says quite a bit about his talent as this is a pretty deep corp of LBs.  Of course, he was ranked as the 19th best inside linebacker in the nation by ESPN.com so it's not like his skill level is a big secret.

So, while a lot of people will be zoned in on the QB battle during the spring game, I'll be focused on the linebacker crew because that orchestra of destruction is going be a lot of fun to watch.

Quick note -- all of the sudden this unit could use a coach.

In-House

Inside Linebackers

40 Mike Rivera Jr. 6-3/250 Overland Park, KS (Shawnee Mission NW HS)
Recruited: 2004 *** 4.58

16 Brandon Duncan So. 6-1/215 Garland, TX (Lakeview Centennial HS)
Recruited: 2005 **** 4.53

61 Ian Handshy So. 6-1/260 Lawrence, KS (Lawrence HS)
 
59 Sal Capra Fr/RS 6-3/245 Kansas City, MO (Rockhurst HS)
Recruited: 2006 ** 4.8

Outside Linebackers 

12 James Holt Jr. 6-3/215 Altus, OK (Altus)
Recruited: 2005 ** 4.6
 
8 Joe Mortensen Jr. 6-2/245 Clayton, CA (Clayton Valley HS)
Recruited: 2004 ** 4.55
 
58 Jake Schermer So. 6-2/230 Nixa, MO (Ozark HS)
Recruited: 2005 ** 4.65

44 Olaitan Oguntodu So. 6-1/220 Mesquite, TX (John Horn HS)
Recruited: 2006 *** 4.45
 
51 Dakota Lewis Fr/RS 6-1/215 Sulphur, OK (Sulphur HS)
Recruited: 2006 ** 4.61

36 Tang Bacheyie Jr. 6-1/205 Windsor, Ont. (Sandwich HS)
Recruited: 2005 *** 4.48
 

More Linebackers

53 Matt Zeleznak Jr. 6-0/215 Topeka, (Hayden HS)
43 Ted Hodges Fr/RS 6-1/215 Salina, KS (Central HS)
52 Jamal Murray Fr/RS 5-10/220 Wichita, KS (Collegiate HS)

Incoming

*** Drew Dudley OLB -- 6-2/212/4.6 -- College Station, TX
*** Justin Springer OLB -- 6-4/220 -- Los Fresnos, TX

                                   |--------Tackles----------------| |-Sacks-|
2006 LB Stats            GP Solo  Ast Total   TFL/Yds   No-Yds 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 Rivera, Mike          12   63   27    90          8-29       2-15 
8  Mortensen, Joe      12   40   42    82        12-36       4-25 
12 Holt, James             8   17   12    29           2-6    
58 Schermer, Jake     12    7   10    17      
16 Duncan, Brandon    3    7     0     7            1-8      1-8  
61 Handshy, Ian           2    2     0     2   
44 Oguntodu, Olaitan   9    1     0     1