2019 Preseason Preview: Linebackers
Aug 15, 2019, 5:19 PM | Updated: 5:19 pm
DAVIS,
Calif. — Officially speaking, UC Davis assistants Jerry Brady and Isaiah Jackson
are listed as the coaches for outside linebackers and inside linebackers,
respectively. Unofficially, however, they are hardly alone in guiding those
position groups, as key Aggie veterans have demonstrated abilities to mentor
the other players into the upcoming season.
For Brady, that on-field leader comes in the form of senior co-captain Nas
Anesi. Jackson benefits from a trio of leaders: senior Eric Flowers, junior
Connor Airey and sophomore Montell Bland.
“It’s a quiet leadership, but Nas is a three-time captain for a reason,” said
Brady, on Anesi. “The guys really respect him. He brings a business-like
mentality to meetings.” On the field, Anesi’s playing abilities have resulted
in 160 tackles during the past three seasons. Off the field, his leadership
results in relatively unseen contributions, such as an evening during the first
week of camp when Anesi stayed a half-hour after practice working one-on-one
with a younger teammate.
Oddly, Anesi finds himself in learning mode as well, having shifted from an
interior linebacker position to Brady’s crew. “This is his first time playing
outside since we’ve been here,” Brady said. “It’s good for him to have a
renewed sense of urgency. He’s such a good leader of guys. He does a good job
with the overall morale.”
Among the ILBs under Jackson, Flowers has literally the most experience with
the current coaching staff: he played under current UC Davis defensive
coordinator Robert Tucker at L.A. Valley College as a freshman, then followed
Tucker (and Brady) to the Aggies before the 2017 season.
Like Flowers, Airey has played all 24 games during the past two seasons,
finishing sixth on the Aggies with 51 tackles in 2018. Bland is the youngest of
the returning veterans, but he earned Freshman All-America honors from both
HERO Sports and Phil Steele’s last year. Despite his young age, Bland has
served as a “Coach Bland” for the program’s newcomers, and his 11-tackle
performances against Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington (twice) shows that
he knows of what he speaks.
“I can’t emphasize enough the role of Connor Airey and Eric Flowers and their
impact on our group, not just the linebackers but on the defense,” said
Jackson. “In terms of seeing formations and making adjustments, they’re just a
step quicker. It’s awesome to have that kind of leadership in my room. They’re
coaching the young guys.”
“Eric is like the glue for us. He’s not a team captain but a lot of guys look
at him as if he is. He’ll have a big impact as a senior on the young guys, as
they grow and develop this season.”
Both linebacker units have both familiar and new faces looking to make an
impact in 2019. The departure of Mason Moe, Anthony Baumgart and Ryan Parenteau
on the outside opens up possible roles for players like juniors Khanii Lesane
and Terrell Sayles, each of whom have a strong familiarity with the UC Davis
defense but have largely waited in the wings to display their talents.
In transitioning from defensive back to linebacker, Da’Von Frazier made huge
gains in the weight room under the watch of strength coach Jeff Bourque. Nick
Eaton was the defensive recipient of the team’s George Belenis Award, bestowed
upon the top scout team players of the year. Add to the mix Joseph Kurung, who
played safety for Santa Barbara City College and nickel for Butte College
before joining the Aggies this year.
The interior linebackers welcome a crew newcomers: transfers Cole Hansen and
James Scharetg, and true freshmen Jordan Monroe and Calvin Mouisset. Hansen
amassed 38 tackles and garnered second-team All-Orange Empire Conference honors
for Fullerton College last fall. Scharetg posted six TFLs in his sophomore year
with the Rams before joining the Aggies during spring ball, but immediately
became a “culture guy,” according to Jackson. “It has not been hard for him to
acclimate,” said I-Jack. “He has been accepted by the guys as one of the Davis
guys.”
Monroe was a two-time All-Hacienda League pick for Charter Oak High School,
while Mouisset earned three straight All-Trinity League awards for JSerra
Catholic down in San Juan Capistrano. According to Jackson, both freshmen will
contribute relatively quickly in their careers, particularly benefitting from
the tutelage of veterans like Flowers. “Jordan and Mouisset both have the
ability to have an impact on our team pretty early,” said Jackson. “Both of
them are smart and intelligent, and they come from really good schools.”
In the end, having a depth of talent combined with plentiful roles for the
taking results in an exciting camp battle. The chances for new faces to step up
adds excitement for the coaching staff. “There are lots of opportunities for
those guys to get on the field and really showcase their attributes,” Brady
said. “I told the guys in the first meeting, if you are the best at one attribute,
we will find a way to use that attribute to the fullest. The guys are
sharpening their gifts, and we’re going to find a way to put it on the field.”
Those opportunities will first surface during Saturday’s scrimmage, held at UC
Davis Health Stadium at 9 a.m., and during the Aggies’ 2019 season opener at
California on August 31.
