Linebackers

[Recruiting Guru]

SMU will need to sign some linebackers in February, since they will lose Vic Viloria, D.D. Johnson, Billy Jack Williams and Justin Williams. Here are some of the top linebackers in the state, many of whom have at least some interest at this point in SMU.

Demario Pleasant, 6-3, 200, 4.6, Lewisville -- A flyer who hits incredibly hard. Excellent footwork and tackler. Can drop into coverage. Could even play safety in college.

Delvin Dunner, 6-0, 215, 4.6, Waco High -- Another speedy 'backer who could be a big DB. Very good hands when breaking up/intercepting passes.

Avery Cleveland, 6-2, 195, 4.6, Austin LBJ -- Lean guy who will add a lot of strength and be a fine outside linebacker in college.

Aaron Shanor, 6-2, 220, 4.6, Azle -- Inside guy with a nose for the ball. Very strong.

Robert Latu, 6-3, 224, 4.6, Keller Fossil Ridger -- Game-breaker who dominates games against the run and against the pass. Can rush the passer or drop into coverage and is a fundamentally sound tackler.

Scott Derry, 6-2, 230, 4.7, Pearland -- Very similar player to Shanor.

TaTa Thompson, 6-3, 225, 4.6, Garland High -- Perhaps the top LB prospect in Texas. Will be a hard sell for Coach Bennett, as he's being chased already by many of the top "big" schools. Thompson can do everything a linebacker is asked to do, and does it all well.

Josh Cobb, 6-3, 215, 4.7, El Paso Eastwood -- Tremendous pass rusher from the linebacker spot who plays with a really bad attitude. His intensity wears off on the rest of the defense.

Travis Morris, 6-2, 220, 4.6, Warren -- Very fast for an inside guy, Morris plays from one sideline to the other. Always around the ball.

Aaron Reyes, 6-3, 225, 4.8, Round Rock Stony Point -- Teams run away from Reyes, and with good reason. When he hits you, the play is over. Not quick enough to play outside. Best-suited to playing inside in a 3-4 defensive alignment.

Kirk Elder, 6-4, 270, 5.1, Klein Oak -- Not fast, but he looks like a defensive tackle playing upright in a two-point stance. When he gets up a head of steam, running backs become endangered species. Crushing hitter.

Tyler Flynn, 6-0, 200, 4.7, Southlake Carroll -- Size dictates he might move to safety in college, if he's fast enough.

Nasio Toutai, 6-0, 210, 4.7, Euless Trinity -- Plays a lot faster than his 40 time. Relationship with 2002 SMU signee Robert Gilmore might help Ponies' chances to land him. Covers receiving targets as well as any LB in the state, with very fluid running style. Good lateral movement, and changes directions well.

Jeremy Castillo, 6-0, 195, 4.6, Corsicana -- Needs to bulk up. Lightning-quick cover specialist. Reads opponents' routes very well. Can run with receivers/RBs all day. Able to evade much larger blockers.

Robert Killebrew, 6-2, 215, 4.6, Klein -- Solid, thick 'backer with great power in his legs, allowing him to drive through tackles. Punishes ball-carriers. Will only get better in college.

[PonyTales]

I've seen Thompson play many times, and I've seen Pleasant play twice. If we were to get both of them, our linebackers would be a major strength. They are stars waiting to happen.

[Corso]

Robert Latu and Tata Thompson are must-have linebackers.

[BennettBacker]

Coach Bennett coached the secondary at K-State, but trust me, he knows the importance of having great linebackers. He'll make it a priority to recruit a bunch of really fast LBs, even if it means doing like they do at K-State and Nebraska, where they take big safeties who can really run and make them into small-but-fast linebackers.