Positional Preview: Linebackers
Aug 26, 2020 | Football
NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane linebacker unit will have a good mix of returners and newcomers in the 2020 season. The Green Wave returning linebackers logged 91 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in 2019. The 2020 unit features four returners and six newcomers.
THE UNIT
- The linebacker unit returns one starter in senior Marvin Moody.
- Moody returns as the leader of the group. He logged 56 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss last season. He ranked fifth on the team in both categories.
- Junior Nick Anderson also returns after registering 26 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks in his first season in Uptown.
- Redshirt Junior Sam Bruchhaus and sophomore Dorian Williams round out the returners for the Green Wave.
- Six newcomers will join the linebackers this season – graduate transfer Kevin Henry and freshmen Jesus Machado, Matthew Hightower, Aidan McCahill, Andrew Wilks and Hayden Beal.
- Machado was selected as the 5A Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-Dade County honors from the Miami Herald.
- Henry came to Tulane after spending four seasons at Oklahoma State. He recorded 23 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss for the Cowboys last season.
- The Olive and Blue lost Lawrence Graham and Malik Lawal from the unit.
- Linebackers coach Michael Mutz is entering his fifth season with the Green Wave. The crew had 196 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2019 under Mutz.
OF NOTE
- The Tulane defense ranked fourth in the American Athletic Conference in total defense.
- Kevin Henry was named Fourth Team preseason All-AAC by Phil Steele.
- Marvin Moody was named Fourth Team preseason All-AAC by Athlon Sports.
I don't know if we have one guy who is the "leader". We've got five guys who are really leaders. Some guys use more voice than others, but all the guys lead by example with their effort, toughness and character. We are in a real fortunate position to have five guys that can do it.Michael Mutz, Linebackers Coach
We just want to do a good job of doing our job. We want to play with discipline and effort. We do not want to do anything more than what our job requires. We want to trust in the defensive call and fit off the defensive line. If they do their job and we do our job, things are going to be really, really good because it is a great group in front of us at the D Line spot. If we take care of our job, we will be really solid this year.Michael Mutz, Linebackers Coach
Tulane is set to kickoff the season in Mobile, Alabama, against South Alabama on Saturday, September 12. The Green Wave are coming off a record setting 2019 campaign that was highlighted by a win in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl to give Tulane back-to-back bowl victories for the first time in program history. The Green Wave captured the AutoNation Cure Bowl in 2018.
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
Follow Tulane football on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @GreenWaveFB. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
