July 24, 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt linebacker corps features several rising prospects poised to make their mark on the defense following the loss of three multi-game starters from 2016, including a consensus All-American.
Outside linebackers coach Warren Belin returns to Vanderbilt with second-year inside linebacker mentor Chris Marve to guide a unit that features two starters and six contributors from a year ago.
The corps is missing plenty of production from 2016, namely inside linebacker Zach Cunningham, who became a second-round NFL draft selection of the Houston Texans after earning consensus first team All-America honors.
Senior Oren Burks will likely fill the vacancy left by Cunningham’s departure. The versatile Burks has evolved from a physical safety in 2015 and hybrid linebacker last year to competing for the inside linebacker slot this August.
In 2016, Burks registered 3.5 sacks among 59 tackles. He also ranks as the team’s active career leader with 94 solo tackles, 155 total tackles and four interceptions.
Senior Emmanuel Smith and junior Jordan Griffin, who combined for 30 tackles last year, are expected to compete with Burks for the starting inside linebacker roles. Smith, like Burks as a safety two years ago, has bulked up to nearly 240 pounds in anticipation of moving inside.
Redshirt sophomore Jay Hockaday, back after missing the entire 2016 season to injury, is a fourth returnee at inside linebacker.
Redshirt junior Charles Wright and junior Josh Smith were two of the most improved outside linebackers during the spring, both bringing the ability to bring pressure off the edge from the outside linebacker position. Wright responded with 3.5 tackles for loss when inserted into the lineup last year while Smith’s production increased as the 2016 season endured.
Redshirt sophomore Caleb Peart will get plenty of preseason reps at outside linebacker after playing in 10 games last year. Promising redshirt freshmen Kenny Hebert and Andre Mintze also return at outside linebacker.
The Commodores also added five linebacker prospects in its 2017 signing class: early enrollee Dimitri Moore, Feleti Afemui, Colin Anderson, Brayden DeVault-Smith and Michael Owusu.
