Linebackers Will Be an Imposing Group
Though the UConn offense has been a bit stagnant over the past few seasons, the defense has played admirably. The linebackers unit for the Huskies was one of the strongest position groups last season. The team’s top two leaders in tackles, Jackson Mitchell and Ian Swenson, are returning for 2022. The Huskies also added some extra firepower at the position through the transfer portal by adding former Kentucky Wildcat Marquez Bembry.
Defensive coordinator Lou Spanos was most successful in the NFL when he had a potent duo of inside linebackers. During the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Super Bowl run in 2005, he had James Farrior, who had 128 tackles and four sacks, and Larry Foote, who had 91 tackles and four sacks. During the Super Bowl run in 2008, he had once again had Farior, who finished with 102 tackles and three sacks, and Lawrence Timmons, who had 78 tackles and seven sacks.
Spanos has shown to be aggressive with his linebackers, with the inside group combining for 18 sacks during his championship seasons. With what Spanos has at his disposal, he could lead this defense in a similar fashion.
Spanos was also the linebackers coach for the Tennessee Titans from 2014 to 2018. UConn Sports Illustrated described his tenure briefly in an article earlier in the year: “During his time with the Titans, Spanos oversaw a linebacker unit that posted the second-highest number of sacks in the NFL over the 2016 and 2017 seasons and a Titan linebacker led the squad in tackles in each of his seasons in Nashville.”
Prior to his time with the Titans, Spanos was head coach Jim Mora’s defensive coordinator at UCLA. In his first year with the team, the Bruins finished eighth in the nation in sacks. He coached linebackers Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr and Myles Jack, all of whom have been productive NFL players. Here’s a a look at the incoming linebackers that Spanos will have at his disposal:
Jackson Mitchell
Mitchell is the returning leading tackler for the club after finishing the 2021 season with 113 tackles. He has a nose for the football, matched with tenacity and a high motor allowing him to consistently be in or around almost every play. Mitchell is a team captain with great instincts, one who is averaging almost 10 tackles per game across his starts with the program.
Ian Swenson
Swenson has been a staple in the Huskies' defense since he cracked the lineup. Swenson has three consecutive seasons with 40 or more tackles, including a career-high of 73 in 2021. He also has 10.5 tackles for a loss over that same span. Swenson is a former defensive back and shows very good range and ability in coverage. He should have a big role again in 2022.
Marquez Bembry
Bembry is a graduate transfer from Kentucky. He is a former three-star recruit and a top-50 JUCO recruit in the 2019 class. His motor burns red hot and has terrific sideline-to-sideline mobility. He adds great depth to the position and should see an ample amount of snaps. Bembry has been a vocal leader in practice and has been a standout during spring ball.
The Huskies have added multiple edge rushers through the recruiting process this year, bulking up the team’s pass rush. In the center of the defense, the linebackers, the Huskies have a stable of athletic and competitive players, all of whom have shown an ability in coverage and blitzing. The added rush off the edge will aid in Spanos’s ability to blitz with the linebackers. Opposing offensive linemen will have to pay added attention to the edge in 2022, allowing Spanos to become very aggressive and dial up some well-timed blitzes. This group of linebackers should lead this defense with its athleticism and leadership.
