Oregon State Linebackers Breakdown

With the loss of four players at the linebacker position it would be hard pressed for a Beavers fan to not think that there would be a drop off in the linebacking core. With the return of senior strong side linebacker and Lott Trophy watch list member Keaton Kristick, however, and numerous young, talented players surrounding him, the Oregon State core of linebackers could be the strongest that Beaver Nation has seen in years. Of course, no disrespect to the group of Joey LaRocque, Derrick Doggett and Alan Darlin from a few years ago, but the speed, intensity and toughness that this new group of linebackers displays is so impressive that they will make you want to slap yo mama.

On numerous occasions throughout the Spring, Beavers head coach Mike Riley suggested that Kristick may potentially be the best player in the Pac-10 conference. Riley may be onto something.. The way that Kristick flies from sideline to sideline like a man possessed, some of the hits that he laid into offensive players getting in his way, and the all around way that the linebacker disrupted plays could play a big key in how well the Oregon State defense plays this season. Every practice, so it seemed, Kristick engaged his “non-stop motor,” and found himself in the backfield play after play, something that undoubtedly irritated the offensive line to no end. The tenacity that the senior linebacker displayed on a day-to-day basis is clearly unmatched by any other player on the Oregon State defense, something that breeds true leaders, and will be a trait that will push Kristick into one of the bigger leadership roles on the defensive side of the ball.

Although the duo of redshirt freshman backing up Kristick will hardly see the field this season pending (God forbid) an injury, the middle linebacker position certainly has the depth, with Zane Norris and Kameron Krebs there to backup the senior linebacker. Norris, Slade’s little brother was one of four “Scout Team MVP’s” last year, as voted on by his teammates and showed good sideline to sideline speed for a player of his side, and a good nose for reading where the ball is going to go. Krebs, brother of Beaver wide receiver Kaulin, injured his knee early on in the month, returned to practice, and then reinjured it in the later weeks of practice, an injury that will require surgery at some point in the Summer. Both linebackers are young, raw players with great potential and certainly add depth to the position, it will just be a matter of which player wants the position more once Kristick has left Oregon State.

At the weakside linebacker position, it has become abundantly clear that there will not be a solution to the ‘PT’ problem, as juniors Keith Pankey and Dwight Roberson proceed, and continue to battle for the starting position, a battle that will surely continue late into Fall camp until one or the other come out on top. Both players were all over the field throughout the Spring, displaying good pass coverage for a linebacker, as well as hard hitting abilities and the ability to track down the ball carrier anywhere on the field. Riley has made it clear that both players will end up getting playing time at the position; it is just a matter of how it will be split. 50-50? 60-40? Who knows, only Fall Camp will tell.

At middle linebacker the Beavers have potentially one of the hardest hitters in the history of the program in David Pa’aluhi III. Some of the licks that the sophomore linebacker laid on offensive players during Spring practices made Al Afalava’s hit on Jake Locker look like child’s play. Pa’aluhi is expected to become the first Oregon State linebacker to start at the position as a sophomore since Richard Seigler started as a freshman in 2000. A pair of juniors are expected to backup Pa’aluhi after redshirt freshman Tony Wilson went down with a knee injury late in the month of April. While Wilson is expected to make a full recovery and return to the team late in the Fall, the team will move on with Walker Vave and Keo Camat at the backup position to Pa’aluhi. While both players have been nothing more than special teams players in their stint at Oregon State, both will have ample opportunities to get on the field this season, as Pa’aluhi will eventually need a breather at some point, it is just a question of which player will step up to grab said playing time.

Linebacker has been a position of consistency for Oregon State, and year after year linebackers coach Greg Newhouse is able to pop out dynamic, game-changing players. While most of the pressure will be on Kristick to deliver, he will certainly have an ample supporting cast that will help solidify an already young Oregon State defense.