Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Our 2018 season preview coverage continues here at Hoosier Huddle! Throughout the offseason, we are ranking the position groups of each of IU’s 2018 opponents and today we focus on the linebackers.

1. Michigan Wolverines

The Hoosiers have to play a number of really good linebacker units in 2018 but for me, there is little question of who holds the top spot in these rankings: the Michigan Wolverines. Devin Bush is one of the best defensive players in the country and both he and Khaleke Hudson anchor one of the nation’s better defenses. The duo combined for nearly 200 tackles, they are both strong against the run and solid in pass coverage. Mike McCray is now in the NFL but young guns Josh Ross and Josh Uche are definitely capable of filling in.

2. Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans surprised everyone with a ten-win season in 2017. A large part of that success was the play of breakout star Brian Lewerke at quarterback but the outstanding defense is not to be overlooked. The duo of Andrew Dowell and Joe Bachie at linebacker was a huge part of the defensive prowess. Bachie (a junior) is a rock-solid middle linebacker that can bring the wood as a tackler. Andrew Dowell, now a senior, has played a lot of football for the Spartans as their “Star” linebacker. Young players Antjuan Simmons (Star LB) and Tyriq Thompson (“Money” MLB) are ready to step up and provide some very quality depth. MSU does not quite have the star power of their in-state rivals but this unit is deep, talented and ready to anchor another top 15 defense.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes lost Jerome Baker and Chris Worley to the NFL and Dante Booker is likely out after having a pair of shoulder surgeries but the cliché is true: Ohio State does not “rebuild”, they “reload”. Well, that might not entirely be true as their will be a bit of an adjustment period as inexperienced players get used to new roles. Tuf Borland returns as the run-stopping interior linebacker after a stellar freshman campaign. The outside linebacker positions are wide open with unproven but very talented players Malik Harrison and Keandre Jones the favorites to start. Baron Browning, Dallas Gant and Pete Werner are good depth pieces that project as future stars. Ohio State doesn’t really have any “weaknesses” but linebacker is not projected as a “strength”.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions

Koa Farmer is the only starter returning at linebacker and one of only two starters returning on defense for the Penn State Nittany Lions. They will very likely rely on a pair of freshmen in Ellis Brooks and blue-chip recruit Micah Parsons. In fact, Ellis Brooks projects as the starting middle linebacker for the Nittany Lions. Junior Cam Brown is probably the other starting outside linebacker, opposite of the senior Farmer. I don’t think this is a great group but they have quite a bit of talent and won’t be easy for the Hoosiers offense to deal with.

5. Minnesota Golden Gophers

The Gophers likely have a top 50 defense and they return a pair of starting linebackers along with a couple of seniors to provide experience in Blake Cashman and Julian Huff. While not the deepest group, which could come into play by the time IU travels to Minneapolis, junior Thomas Barber had 115 tackles in 2017 and fellow junior Kamal Martin was a steady partner. PJ Fleck has recruited this position fairly well and a couple of incoming freshmen will hope to contribute. They don’t have the depth of the teams above them on this list but Barber could play anywhere.

6. Iowa Hawkeyes

There is no solid data or evidence in the players returning to justify placing the Iowa Hawkeyes at sixth on this list. However, I placed them here out of respect for the system defensive coordinator Phil Parker and head coach Kirk Ferentz have put in place. Josey Jewell is gone as are Ben Niemann and Bo Bower. These three combined for 122 starts as Hawkeyes and Jewell was an All-American. Nick Niemann (Ben Niemann’s younger brother) will step up into the starting lineup and veterans Aaron Mends, Jack Hockaday, Kristian Welch and Amani Jones are battling for the other spots. No one on the roster has much experience but I cannot bring myself to expect Iowa to be bad at linebacker.

7. Virginia Cavaliers

Micah Kiser was the best player on the Cavaliers defense in 2017 and he is now in the NFL. However, UVA feels good about having Jordan Mack and Chris Peace back at linebacker and Malcolm Cook is a senior with experience. The fourth starter is going to be sophomore Charles Snowden. Jordan Mack is the best player for this unit and the Cavaliers like the athleticism of the position group. They’ll need to be great as the defensive line is a weakness and the linebackers will be asked to do a lot to mask that deficiency. Virginia should still be solid against the pass but the run defense, a weakness in 2017, might be downright awful if the linebackers cannot exceed expectations.

8. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Rutgers actually improved on defense in 2017 and linebacker, particularly Trevor Morris and Deonte Roberts, was a big part of it. The two combined for more than 200 tackles and both return for their senior seasons to lead the defense. Tyreek Maddox-Williams missed last season with an injury and the Scarlet Knights are hoping he’s the answer as the other outside linebacker because there are no other even remotely proven options on the roster. Tyshon Fogg could emerge and if he does, or if Maddox-Williams has been able to get healthy and improve, Rutgers will likely be better than the 7th best LB group IU sees.

9. Maryland Terrapins

Jesse Aniebonam is the projected starter at BUCK linebacker after an injury kept him out for much of 2017. He’s a fearsome pass rusher and Isaiah Davis is a returning starter at outside linebacker. Those are the positives. The negatives are numerous though. The biggest issue is the loss of outstanding tackler Jermaine Carter Jr. The other issue is a complete lack of depth and if any of the starters (Illinois transfer Tre Watson being the other) are injured, the Terrapins have nowhere to turn.

10. Purdue Boilermakers

The Boilermakers get junior Markus Bailey back but that’s about it. Bailey was forced to play out of position last season and he certainly welcomes a return to his natural middle linebacker spot. He’ll likely be joined in the starting lineup by a pair of sophomores in Tobias Larry and Derrick Barnes. Purdue will definitely miss the play of Ja’Whaun Bentley and Danny Ezechukwu. Obviously, IU doesn’t play the Boilermakers until the finale of the regular season so their inexperienced group will have plenty of time to gel before then but linebacker is a major question mark for the Gold and Black.

11. Florida International Golden Panthers

The Golden Panthers return just one starting linebacker (Sage Lewis) after losing their top two players in this group (Anthony Wint and Treyvon Williams). Butch Davis moved defensive end Fermin Silva to outside linebacker and hopes he can provide a pass rush from the position. Lewis has been moved from outside linebacker to inside linebacker to make way for Silva and incoming freshman Donovan Georges. While Georges has potential, he’s a mid-3 star recruit and relying on him to start is scary. FIU will have a very solid defensive line but the linebacking corps, while athletic and potentially exciting, is raw and very inexperienced. The Hoosiers should be able to exploit this group in the season opener.

12. Ball State Cardinals

The Cardinals return only one linebacker from one of the MAC’s worst defenses in 2017 so it’s fairly easy to place them at the bottom of the list. Jacob White is the lone returning starter and he’ll man the middle linebacker position for Ball State. The coaching staff hopes Christian Albright is able to fill the pass-rushing role of departed Anthony Winbush, an All-MAC performer. In short, IU’s offense should be able to have their way with Cardinals early in the season. If they are unable to do so, it could be a bad sign of things to come.

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