Pre-Spring 2024 Rundown: Linebacker
With the dust settled on the 2024 class, I’m going to take some time to breakdown the additions by position group. The format will be similar to these position breakdowns I’ve done in the past: key losses, what is returning, new additions, and highlight an important storyline for each group. The next group I’ll highlight is the Linebacker room.
Key Departures
Gael Laurent - 63 tackles 4 TDL 2 sacks 2 PBU - 1st Team All-GSC
Top Returning Players
Senior - Will Breland - 10 tackles 2 TFL 2 PBU - played only two games due to injury
Graduate - Willie Jordan - Missed 2023 season due to injury - 2022 1st Team All-GSC
RS Junior - Kode Lowe - Missed 2023 season
Junior - Walker Robinson - 61 tackles 6 TFL 2 sacks 2 PBU 5 hurries - 2023 2nd Team All-GSC
RS Sophomore - Ralph Ortiz - 40 tackles 7 TFL 1 sack 3 INT 7 PBU - 2023 GSC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year
New Additions
High School Signees
Cam Anderson (6’ 195) - Trinity Christian Academy - 110 tackles 15 TFL 1.5 sacks 5 PBU 1 FF 53 carries 555 yards 11 TD
Ben Conken (6’3'“ 205) - Cottage Hill Christian Academy (AL) - 85 tackles 10 sacks 5 FF
Jeremiah Dean (5’10” 195) - Bishop Verot - 59 tackles 7 TFL 2 sacks 11 hurries 3 PBU 2 FF
Carson Ratliff (6’1” 200) - Faith Academy (AL) - 136 tackles 26 TFL 1o sacks 1 INT 1 FF
New Additions Primer
Going into 2023 I felt like the LB room was a strength of the team with three returning starters (Breland, Jordan, Lowe) and several key reserves also coming back, most notably Gael Laurent. Things didn’t go exactly as planned, Breland, Jordan, and Lowe essentially missed the entire season, and yet the LB room remained one of the highlights of the team. Laurent went out as a 1st Team All-GSC honoree, and Coach Conner was able to bring along two young standouts in Walker Robinson and Ralph Ortiz. Unlike almost every other position, UWF added no mid-year transfers to the LB room, because they return almost a complete 2 deep with starting experience, but they did sign four versatile HS Seniors: Three year 100+ tackler and two way standout Cam Anderson from Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, playmaking OLB from Cottage Hill Christian in Mobile Ben Conken, Bishop Verot playmaker Jeremiah Dean, and another Mobile native Carson Ratliff from Faith Academy.
What UWF is getting in Cam Anderson is a three year starter who accumulated 362 tackles and won two state championships all at a powerhouse program at TCA. He’s a natural athlete who excels on both sides of the ball as well as on the hardwood, he averaged over 10 yards per carry and was the second leading scorer for the Conquerors basketball team.
The first of two Mobile area Linebackers signed by the Argos, Conken excelled off the edge in a 4 LB system. He’s a guy who may be able to slot in early as a pass rush specialist, but likely grows into a playmaking WLB.
Jeremiah Dean may be undersized, but he more than makes up for it on the field. He didn’t have quite the final campaign as he did as a Junior (where he finished with 149 tackles 16.5 TFL), but he can do it all, cover, pass rush, stop the run.
The final member of the group is the other Mobile area LB, Carson Ratliff. Hugely productive, reminds me a little bit of Will Breland coming out of HS, similar size, mobility, production. I think he has a future at MLB as he puts on weight in college.
Spring Storyline: An Embarrassment of Riches
The big question is: is everyone back and back to full speed? If yes, UWF is going into spring with five starting Linebackers. Not five starting quality Linebackers, not five potential starting Linebackers. Five Linebackers who have been the primary starter for at least a season in Pensacola. More good problems to have, but again how do we get enough reps for five guys with just three LB spots on the field at any given time. Will Breland, in my opinion, was the best player UWF had returning on defense from 2022 to 2023, Willie Jordan was right behind him. Getting both of those guys back after a season where Walker Robinson got to really blossom as a high level GSC LB would be incredible for the two ILB spots, giving you the ability to rotate or spell without any drop-off. Same goes for Ralph Ortiz and Kode Lowe at OLB, who started every game of the 2023 and 2022 seasons, respectively. You also have yet another young standout coming up behind them in Robert Riley at Rover. With no new additions to this group before Spring practices, these are probably the six guys to look for in Spring ball, but there are some other experienced players returning, Onelio Rios, Mi’Chaun Coward, and Eric Folau, who could be in the mix as well.
So how does everyone fit together? I’d venture a guess that if back and fully healthy, Breland and Jordan are your starters at MLB and WLB, with Robinson as the primary backup for both of those spots, with Rios pushing at WLB as well. Ortiz is going to have a leg up on Lowe due to playing in the system all last year, but don’t be surprised to see both getting on the field at the same time in passing situations, where their athleticism and skillsets could make them a very effective duo as hybrid Nickelback/Rover type OLBs. What could be interesting is when the True Freshman make it to campus in the fall, could Cameron Anderson or Ben Conken make their way onto the field, even if just in certain down/distance situations as pass rushing Linebackers? Once again will have high hopes for this position group.
Pre-Spring Projected LB Depth Chart
Position: 1st String / 2nd String
MLB: Will Breland / Walker Robinson
WLB: Willie Jordan / Walker Robinson
Rover: Ralph Ortiz / Kode Lowe
