Resurgance of star white LBs

This year has seen a resurgance in college football of great white LBs. I can't remember the last time there were this many star white LBs all at one time and getting a lot of press. Even everybody acknowledges that the best LB corps are Ohio St.'s all three white LBs and everybody knows the best LB in the nation is Hawk. You've got star players everywhere at the position. From Spencer Havner of UCLA to Paul Posluszny of Penn St. Just look at the list of great LBs: OSU's Bobby Carpenter, Anthony Schelegel, AJ Hawk, Iowa's Chad Greenway, Penn State's Posluszny, Tim Shaw, and Dan Connor, Washinton's Will Derting, UCLA's Spencer Havner, Northwestern's Tim McGargle, Stanford's Kevin Schimmelmann, and Boston College's Brian Toal. Hopefully this will parlay into suceessful NFL careers for these guys and allow other star white LBs at the high school level to get more looks and attention from scouts.Edited by: whiteCB

It's great to see. I think one factor is that because fullback has become almost a pure blocking position, more white running backs are being converted into linebackers these days to go along with the ones who play LB in high school and continue at the next level.

Don that's a great point about white players playing linebacker instead of fullback. Fullback in most modern offences is the toughest position on your body. In the fifties and Sixties fullbacks like Jim Taylor and Jim Brown were the often focal points of the offence. Since the I-formation became the base offence for most teams the position of fullback has become and glorified O-lineman. All the great white running backs get converted to other positions. The smaller ones to receiver or safety and the bigger ones to fullback or linebacker. Also many Kids are put at Linebacker or Fullback instead of Tailback when they first start playing.

There will always be a demand for white middle linebackers, because they are the equivalent of the quarterback on offense, they're usually the ones making defensive calls and adjustments and making sure other defenders are lined up properly. Like quarterback and center, more brains are required for linebacker than for other positions.

AJ Hawk and Paul Poslusnzy have been named along with some Alabama's DeMarco Reyes as the finalists for the Butkus award(best LB). 2 out of 3 ain't bad. Though if the Alabama guy wins the award I hope the media buries me upside down so they can all kiss my ass. Hawk should be the winner from an unbiased stand point but the Alabama guy doesn't have nearly the stats of Hawk and Paul so he really shouldn't win.

Kansas has three good white LBs all of whom start.

white tornado said:

Since the I-formation became the base offence for most teams the position of fullback has become and glorified O-lineman.

Click to expand...

Or not-so-glorified O-linemen.

JD074 said:

white tornado said:

Since the I-formation became the base offence for most teams the position of fullback has become and glorified O-lineman.

Click to expand...

Or not-so-glorified O-linemen.

Click to expand...

Amen.

As a former Veer fullback I miss the days of the big, strong guys pounding the line.

It's great to see two of the four finalists for the D player of the year award are Hawk and Poslunszny. Hawk though should win it as his stats and play on the field are sick. Paul will win the award next year. If he returns which I think he will.

It just makes me sick to see Carpenter get hurt in the OSU vs Michigan Game.He is almost in tears because he wants to play so bad.They said that he broke his fibula and will miss the Bowl Game.Here is to a speedy recovery for him.Hang in there!

I know man that injury sucked especially because it was on the first play for cryin out loud. Though did anyone see Carpenter out there at the end of the game celebrating with the team. What a team player. Hawk and Schelegel steped up and shut the UM running game down. Only 33 rushing yards for UM. Ouch!

Carpenter has a fractured ankle so who knows how long he'll be out for. It's doubtful he'll be back in time for whatever bowl game the Buckeyes get into.

Though I was rooting for Michigan I was bummed when Carpenter got hurt. I hate to see such a competitor taken away in a big game like that.

Also: Is AJ Hawk the very image of white athleticism, with his great strength and speed, his aggressive style of play and that long blond hair he looks like a Nordic warrior. I think he will take the mantle from Urlacher as the top white pro-footballer that's not a QB.

Hawk won the Lombardi and Poslusny took home the Bednarik. Talk about a resergence of white LBs. I rally hope Paul stays in school and wins the Bednarik again. Edited by: whiteCB