Sports
Ohio’s linebacker core maintains high level of excellence
By: Andrew Bowlby
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Ohio’s linebackers have changed, however, the standard within the position group has not.
Throughout the previous two seasons, the Bobcats were led by All-MAC linebackers Bryce Houston and Keye Thompson.
With Houston graduating and Thompson transferring to Pittsburgh in the offseason, there were many questions regarding what the position group would look like this year.
Ohio’s Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker coach Nate Faanes had to deal with getting guys to step up and fill big shoes.
“No matter when you lose guys that have been multi-year starters, it’s finding guys to step up,” Fannes said. “We talk about the next man up mentality, and the guys have done a great job of taking on more leadership [and] mentorship roles.”
Ohio linebackers have a rich history within the program, something Thompson and Houston added to.
“The thing I always think about is the legacy of linebackers that have played here. It’s kind of a privilege to play linebacker here and these [past] guys have passed the torch on to this new group,” Faanes said.
Redshirt Junior Shay Taylor, who has been dealing with a lingering injury during the first half of the season, is one of the players who has stepped into a leadership role.
Taylor has been with the Ohio program and now takes what he learned playing under previous mentors and now applies it to this season’s group.
“It was definitely weird to get used to, even in the first game not having them out there and [not] having their guidance,” Taylor said. “They really prepared me to take that role of being a leader. I was just blessed to be able to have them as my mentors.”
Taylor isn’t the only player who has stepped in, the Bobcats have also had help from one of their transfers.
Blake Leake – who spent the last four years at Bucknell – joined the Ohio program after facing adversity last fall.
“It was a stressful time in my life. Last October I actually tore my ACL in the middle of the season,” Leake said. “Things were kind of unknown, and I was very unsure of what was going to happen.”
It took no time for Leake to be integrated into the Ohio culture. From the moment he arrived – he was welcomed.
“There was never a second where I felt like an outsider,” Leake said. “As soon as I got on campus, everybody welcomed me, and it’d been like I had been here for four years.”
Through his four years at Bucknell, Leake brought a tremendous amount of experience with him to Ohio. His experience quickly propelled him into a leadership role.
Leake played in 31 games over four seasons with Bucknell and totaled over 200 tackles and 2 interceptions.
“He’s a guy that has led by example, and has been through it before,” Faanes said. “He knows what a season looks like.”
Even though there has been a change, the level of excellence has not wavered, and new faces have stepped in. And Ohio’s linebacker group continues to lead the defense through another season of Bobcats football.