Cougars have plenty of options, choices to make at linebacker

  • By Jacob Thorpe The Spokesman-Review
  • Monday, August 24, 2015 10:55pm
  • SportsSports

PULLMAN — Washington State’s veteran-laden linebacker corps presents an enviable dilemma to assistant coaches Ken Wilson and Roy Manning: Experience or exceptional athletic ability?

The coaches will choose experience – it won’t be a difficult choice. Returning starters Jeremiah Allison and Peyton Pelluer will see the majority of defensive snaps at the Will and Mike inside linebacker positions, respectively.

At the outside rush linebacker position, Kache Palacio and Ivan McLennan will seek to improve on their combined 11 sacks from last season. The three starters and McLennan have played well throughout the preseason and are clearly WSU’s best options for 2015.

“I would like to play everybody, have roles for all those guys, but if I can’t trust them they won’t be out there,” Wilson said.

The starters have also emerged as defensive leaders, ratcheting up the intensity in practice to the point where the coaches seem to spend as much time reminding defenders that the quarterbacks are off-limits as they do pumping them up.

“At least it’s nothing on effort or nothing on anything bad,” Allison said. “It’s, ‘Stay off our quarterback,’ but we’re going to get after the quarterback.”

But after two successful cycles of recruiting linebackers, the Cougars have a group of young backups whose athletic abilities are frequently superior to those of the starters.

McLennan and Palacio, for example, are surely the most athletic linebackers returning off last year’s defense. But Dylan Hanser, a sophomore from Billings, has better foot speed than either.

And he’s still growing into his 6-foot-4, 230-pound body, having put on 16 pounds in the last year.

“He looks like a different person,” Manning said. “He made some weight gains, strength gains, he did a great job all summer.”

Hanser won’t recognize and react to plays as quickly as the two veterans ahead of him. But on plays when the rush linebacker has a clear shot at the opposing quarterback, it will be tough not to look at the sophomore on the sideline and think that he could get home the quickest.

Freshman Logan Tago is among the most tantalizing athletes on the team – he was a bully during WSU’s first scrimmage, collecting four sacks. But the coaches aren’t even sure which position he will ultimately play, or if he will even stay on defense.

Redshirt freshman Chandler Leniu and sophomore Frankie Luvu bring size and an ability to punish ballcarriers at inside linebacker. Though Wilson would like to see Leniu play at about 250-pounds — he’s listed at 261 — and Luvu needs to improve in pass coverage, their ability to swiftly punish opponents in the middle of the field may trump that of the starter.

“He’s got a big frame,” said Wilson of Leniu. “He’s fully muscled up so if we can keep him moving fast, we’ll be in good shape.”

How versatile is Luvu? Last year he played everything from inside linebacker to Buck — similar to the rush linebacker position — and even punted for the Cougars during spring practices.

A smidgeon of knowledge to go with that natural ability could give Cougars a bevy of options to adapt to opposing offenses, or simply to keep the starters fresh.

“I’d like to give (Allison and Pelluer) some rest,” said Wilson, who coaches the inside linebackers. “We’d like to have a lot of different bodies, keep them fresh. It’s a long season, and the more bodies we can get out there, the more depth out there, the better off we’ll be in the end.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington’s Leyton Martin (2) poses for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Leyton Martin

Arlington’s do-it-all junior point guard led the Eagles to a district title and second straight Hardwood Classic.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Left to right, Mountlake Terrace’s Zaveon Jones, Glacier Peak’s Jo Lee, Everett’s Isaiah White, Arlington’s Leyton Martin, Jackson’s Ryan McFerran, and Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel pose for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area boys basketball teams

A look at the top prep boys basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips’ Andrew Petruk (26) fights for the puck during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Breaking down the Silvertips’ 1st-round playoff series vs. the Giants

Everett is searching for a revenge after a shocking playoff exit against Vancouver two years ago.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.