Solid linebacker trio heart of ASU defense
As the 2020 football season approaches we continue our Arizona State position-by-position series.
Today: Linebackers
Overview
Defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce has referred to the linebacking unit as the “heartbeat” of the defense and if so, the Sun Devils are in good shape with a starting trio consisting of junior Darien Butler (6-0, 235), Merlin Robertson (6-3, 250) and Kyle Soelle (6-4, 225).
Butler and Robertson have been starters since their first games as true freshmen. Last season Butler recorded a team-high 90 tackles with three forced fumbles and a recovery while Robertson was tied for third with 72 tackles to go with three forced fumbles and an interception.
Soelle managed 20 tackles in a reserve role but has been praised by Pierce for his durability and steady play.
The Sun Devils did get some quality freshman recruits to help with depth at linebacker, but two who previously played there have been moved to the defensive line to help with pass rush issues and aid in the transition from the 3-3-5 to a more conventional four-man front. That duo consists of junior Tyler Johnson and redshirt sophomore Stanley Lambert.
Among the other scholarship linebackers are redshirt freshman Connor Soelle (6-2, 200 and Kyle’s younger brother) and sophomore Elijah Juarez (6-2, 255). Connor Soelle has made the move from safety where the team already has a lot of depth; Juarez is back at linebacker after being briefly moved to fullback last season.
Three questions to be answered
1. Can Robertson rebound from subpar sophomore season? Robertson was the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2018 but didn’t play up to that standard as sophomore. He did play better toward the end of the season and had perhaps his best outing in the year-ending 20-14 Sun Bowl win over Florida State. He came into spring football in better shape, dropping about 10 pounds and appearing more focused, so all hope that will carry over. He has aspirations to play at the next level so this is a crucial year for him in pursuit of that goal, particularly if he plans to leave early.
2. Who could emerge as the breakout player? Last season it was Khaylan Kearse-Thomas emerging as a key player when inserted into the starting lineup for the first time as a senior and the Sun Devils think Soelle, out of Saguaro High School, can make the same kind of progress given the opportunity to fill a major role for the first time. The coaching staff is so high on him he was appointed one of the team captains, as was Butler.
3. What is the biggest concern here? Depth. While the starting trio looks solid, there is little experience after those three. True freshmen are listed as the backups at two of the three linebacking spots with a redshirt freshman tabbed as the second-teamer at the other.
About the newcomers
There were three high school linebackers in ASU’s 2020 signing class — Will Shaffer (Saguaro), Caleb McCullough (Pacifica, Oxnard, Calif.) and Jordan Banks (Narbonne, Harbor City, Calif.). McCullough and Banks were early enrollees so they got the benefit of the seven spring practices before the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.
Shaffer (6-0, 230) was tagged as the No. 15 overall prospect in Arizona and the No. 23 inside linebacker prospect nationally by 247Sports, with Rivals singling him out as the No. 20 overall prospect in the state. He racked up 139 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 37 varsity games, helping the school to the first Arizona High School Open Division Championship game, playing on both sides of the ball. He also competed in basketball and track.
McCullough (6-2, 210) was the Pacific View League Defensive Player of the Year after registering 217 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one interception as a senior. A three-star prospect, McCullough was the No. 18 inside linebacker prospect, and the No. 586 overall prospect nationally, by 247Sports. Rivals tabbed him the No. 36 outside linebacker in the country and the No. 43 overall prospect in California.
Banks (6-2, 240), a four-star recruit and the top defensive player in the 2020 class, is out of the same high program that produced ASU junior teammate Darien Butler and fellow freshman Macen Williams. Rivals listed him as the No. 139 overall prospect in the country, the No. 8 inside linebacker prospect and a top-20 overall prospect in the state; 247Sports ranked him the No. 208 overall prospect nationally, the No. 15 outside linebacker and No. 17 overall prospect in the state.
Last season the Sun Devils played 32 true or redshirt freshmen, and these newcomers should be among those to play this season, particularly with the NCAA’s ruling that because of the uncertain nature of the season this one will not count against eligibility.
About the coach
Pierce is in his third year as the coach of the linebackers but he also serves as associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
Pierce, 42, played nine seasons in the NFL for two different teams — Washington and the New York Giants. He was part of a Super Bowl-winning Giants squad in 2007, also serving as team captain that year.
A product of the University of Arizona, Pierce was not drafted but in spite of that he not only won a championship but earned Pro Bowl honors as well.
This is his third year on staff at ASU, coming on board with head coach Herm Edwards.
Before that he was head coach at California power Long Beach Poly High School.
From the coach
“He always had plans to play at the next level. Now he looks the part.”
—Pierce on Robertson