The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Positional Preview: The Outside Linebackers
6/24/2020 1:48:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – Led by Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jordan Smith, the jack/outside linebacker position should once again produce huge numbers in 2020.
Smith erupted onto the scene last year, establishing himself as one of the top edge rushers in the country. He finished his first year as a Blazer with 53 total tackles, and led the team with 17.5 TFL, 10.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and eight quarterback hurries. His 10 sacks were the fifth most in a single season at UAB in program history.
At 6-foot-7, 250 lbs, Smith enters his redshirt junior year as a well-known commodity throughout the nation as he aims to surpass his production from last year.
Opposite of Smith is true sophomore Alex Wright, who is looking to build upon his stellar freshman campaign which resulted in earning Conference USA All-Freshman Team accolades. Wright (6-foot-4, 235 lbs) led all C-USA freshmen in TFL (8.5) and sacks (4.5) in 2019, and is ready for a breakout sophomore campaign as he and Smith form a daunting 1-2 punch for opposing offenses to handle.
Redshirt junior Kelle Sanders enters his first year at UAB after spending last year at Independence CC. Sanders signed with Washington State out of high school to play quarterback, but made the switch to defense during junior college and provides another long edge rusher standing at 6-foot-6.
Jalen Rayam is back eligible entering his redshirt sophomore season. He has a huge upside and should have a big role in the defense this year alongside Smith, Wright and Sanders. Fellow redshirt sophomore Nikia Eason Jr. gained valuable experience in his first full season, finishing with seven tackles and a half sack.
Redshirt seniors Jordan Jones and Rubin Stinson III, along with redshirt sophomore Michael Fairbanks II (who is making the switch from DL) round out the outside linebacker position.
This unit has helped UAB finish top 10 nationally in total defense each of the last two years, while compiling 92 sacks and 217 TFL during that span.
UAB is once again stacked on both sides of the ball with 18 total returning starters. The Blazers aim for their third straight C-USA West Division title and their second overall C-USA championship in the last three years.
Season tickets for 2020 are on sale starting as low as $75 with the Family Four Pack. Blazer Boosters members and current season ticket holders will have top priority for Protective Stadium entering 2021. Click here to purchase season tickets.
Smith erupted onto the scene last year, establishing himself as one of the top edge rushers in the country. He finished his first year as a Blazer with 53 total tackles, and led the team with 17.5 TFL, 10.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and eight quarterback hurries. His 10 sacks were the fifth most in a single season at UAB in program history.
At 6-foot-7, 250 lbs, Smith enters his redshirt junior year as a well-known commodity throughout the nation as he aims to surpass his production from last year.
Opposite of Smith is true sophomore Alex Wright, who is looking to build upon his stellar freshman campaign which resulted in earning Conference USA All-Freshman Team accolades. Wright (6-foot-4, 235 lbs) led all C-USA freshmen in TFL (8.5) and sacks (4.5) in 2019, and is ready for a breakout sophomore campaign as he and Smith form a daunting 1-2 punch for opposing offenses to handle.
Redshirt junior Kelle Sanders enters his first year at UAB after spending last year at Independence CC. Sanders signed with Washington State out of high school to play quarterback, but made the switch to defense during junior college and provides another long edge rusher standing at 6-foot-6.
Jalen Rayam is back eligible entering his redshirt sophomore season. He has a huge upside and should have a big role in the defense this year alongside Smith, Wright and Sanders. Fellow redshirt sophomore Nikia Eason Jr. gained valuable experience in his first full season, finishing with seven tackles and a half sack.
Redshirt seniors Jordan Jones and Rubin Stinson III, along with redshirt sophomore Michael Fairbanks II (who is making the switch from DL) round out the outside linebacker position.
This unit has helped UAB finish top 10 nationally in total defense each of the last two years, while compiling 92 sacks and 217 TFL during that span.
UAB is once again stacked on both sides of the ball with 18 total returning starters. The Blazers aim for their third straight C-USA West Division title and their second overall C-USA championship in the last three years.
Season tickets for 2020 are on sale starting as low as $75 with the Family Four Pack. Blazer Boosters members and current season ticket holders will have top priority for Protective Stadium entering 2021. Click here to purchase season tickets.
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