Nick Daschel is a veteran sports writer and columnist who has worked on the West coast for nearly three decades. Nick has covered the Pac-10 for about 15 years, primarily focusing on the Northwest schools.
Continuing with our series on the top players at each position in the Pac-10 for 2009, this time linebackers. It’s not a Dick Butkus-Junior Seau-Keith Rivers type group for the upcoming season. At least, not yet. With USC and California graduating all-star units from 2008, and others departing for the NFL, linebacker is a position in transition in the Pac-10. In fact, of this list’s top 10, six didn’t start in 2008. Of all of our top-10 lists, this one is most subject to revision in December.
1. Reggie Carter, UCLA: There isn’t a lot separating the top two choices here, as they dwarf the rest with the combination of experience and accomplishments. Why Carter over OSU’s Keaton Kristick? It’s an arguable call, but we think the fact that Carter has played inside and outside linebacker shows a little more range at the position. Carter is showing up on a lot of preseason watch lists, and for good reason. Carter is a sound tackler who once made 20 in a game against BYU (a game in which apparently no one else was interested in tackling; an infamous 59-0 loss), and a rock-solid hitter who forced three fumbles in 2008. The leader of what should be one of the Pac-10’s best defenses in 2009.
2. Keaton Kristick, Oregon State: It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a Beaver is this high on the list. OSU turns out as many quality linebackers as any school on the West Coast north of USC. Kristick is the latest. A second-team all-Pac 10 selection as a junior last season, Kristick plays strong-side linebacker, and is someone his coach, Mike Riley, doesn’t hesitate to call one of the best players in the Pac-10. In his first year as a starter, Kristick showed he could get into the backfield with 14 tackles for a loss, second among all Pac-10 linebackers. Though he is a senior, Kristick didn’t take a redshirt season, so he could make a big leap in improvement at a position where experience matters and get a few mentions among the national big boys.
3. Malcolm Smith, USC: Playing behind the star-studded crew of Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing last year, Smith had to wait his turn. But he is at USC for a reason, and we suspect he’ll show it in 2009. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Smith was one of the defensive stars of USC’s spring practice. The brother of former Trojans standout Steve Smith, he has been compared by coach Pete Carroll to Lofa Tatupu, now an NFL Pro Bowler. Smith, a former running back, has the speed to blow up a ball carrier, and appears to be a playmaker – he returned a fumble 70 yards for a touchdown this spring.
4. Mike Nixon, Arizona State: The dean of Pac-10 linebackers, from an experience and age standpoint. In fact, at 25, Nixon is as old as some third-year NFL linebackers. A former minor league baseball player, Nixon got a late start on college football. But he has made the most of it, playing in 38 games and starting in half of them. Nixon, who has played inside and both outside positions, is the perfect role model for Arizona State’s young, talented linebacking corps that needs seasoning and a leader to become formidable.
5. Chris Galippo, USC: How could you produce a list like this without including the middle linebacker at USC? Not unless you’re nuts, and we’re not, even though Galippo has yet to start a game. Galippo, who takes up space at 6-foot-2, 255 pounds, was on everyone’s radar coming out of high school, and earned MVP honors in the All-American Bowl. Only players with potential of greatness get a shot to play USC’s marquee position of middle linebacker. The only knock on Galippo is that he has already had two back surgeries.
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