Spring Ball Notebook: Linebackers
Projected Spring Game Depth Chart:
No. 48 Kevon Jones, Sr, Hybrid Linebacker/Defensive End, East Hartford, CT
No. 43 Jackson Mitchell, Jr, Ridgefield, CT
No. 6 Ian Swenson, Sr, Wilmette, IL
No. 11 Marquez Bembry, Gr, Atlanta, GA
No. 33 Hunter Webb, rJr, Williamsport, PA
No. 46 John Bechtle, So, Warren, New Jersey
The linebacker group for the Huskies is shaping up to be an incredibly deep group. They have their top two returning linebackers, as well as a transfer from the SEC. I wrote an earlier story about some of the top linebackers on the team that you can read here. Kevon Jones will play a lot at the line of scrimmage and brings a high motor with the ability to blow up the backfield. In 2021, Jones led the Huskies with eight tackles for a loss, also adding 11 QB hurries. Not only was he disruptive in the backfield, but he also showed active hands at the line of scrimmage with four pass breakups. Jones can be seen chasing the quarterback around the field during spring practice.
Jackson Mitchell is returning as the team’s leading tackler from a year ago when he finished the season with 120 total tackles. Mitchell is the quarterback of the defense, and the Ridgefield native has a propensity for creating turnovers, having forced three fumbles last season. Mitchell has made quite an impact on the coaching staff. When asked about Mitchell, head coach Jim Mora said, “He does everything right. Whether it’s in the meeting room, the weight room, in the classroom, on the field, he just does everything right.”
He then went on to talk about his presence on the field, saying, “He’s just a presence. His technique is really good, he doesn’t waste steps, he gets to the ball, he diagnoses quickly, he runs well, he covers well, he’s a really good football player.” Obviously, the staff has grown quite fond of Mitchell.
Ian Swenson is also often seen lining up with the starters during spring practice. He brings a veteran presence to a group of younger and new faces. Swenson has had three straight seasons with at least 40 tackles after redshirting his freshman year.
Marquez Bembry transferred to UConn after spending time at Kentucky. He brings a level of swag the team may have been missing and seems to have emerged into one of the team’s vocal leaders. The coaching staff has been preaching intensity during practice, and Bembry surely got the memo. His motor is always red hot, as he knocked over one coach during bag drills and brought that juice all day long.
This linebacker group for the Huskies is deep, probably the deepest position on the team. Redshirt junior Hunter Webb is sure to be in the mix for competitive snaps. Webb was a three-sport athlete in high school (baseball, basketball and football) and collected 59 tackles a year ago, accumulating multiple games with double-digit tackles. His footwork and ability to cover ground laterally have jumped out thus far in the spring.
John Bechtle has limited playing experience and is a relative unknown, but he has drawn our eye during practice with his footwork, movement skills and demeanor. Bechtle played under former New York Giants Super Bowl champion Rich Seubert at Watchung Hills and brings a blue-collar type of approach to his practice and work ethic. Bechtle may have found himself as one of the more valuable backups for the linebacker group this season after making a great impression on the staff.
I cannot stress enough how deep the linebacker group is for the Huskies. Jackson Mitchell is a legitimate stud. The coaching staff gushes over him, he has a mature demeanor and looks to take responsibility for getting the defense set up and ready to succeed. After Mitchell, the Huskies boast a plethora of high-motor, hard-nosed linebackers, all looking to stake their claim as the heart of the defense. The Spring Showcase will be very fun to watch, seeing all of these guys competing. I cannot wait to see these guys at full game speed.
