By Will Vandervort
It depends on what day you might get him, but Brent Venables for the most part likes what he is seeing from his linebacking corps.
“We’re getting there, but we have a long way to go,” Clemson’s defensive coordinator said many times during the spring.
But the Tigers are getting there. Last year, the linebackers were one of the biggest improvements on the defense, especially with the emergence of Spencer Shuey, whose fourth-quarter play against Georgia Tech—the safety—turned the season for a unit that was much maligned the first half of the season.
With Shuey anchoring the middle, production stepped up at the strong side and weak side positions as Tig Willard became a playmaker on the weak side and Quandon Christian reverted back to the productive ways he played during his freshman season in 2010.
In the spring, Shuey was moved to the weak side where he is project to start in the fall, while Quandon Christian will start at strong side and Stephone Anthony in the middle.
“Guys are just further along. They just know and Brent is very comfortable,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “We’re at another level defensively from a mental standpoint.”
Here is a look at the depth chart coming out of the spring at linebacker:
Spencer Shuey, 6-3, 230, Sr. – Will be the starting linebacker on the weak side. Shuey is perhaps the smartest of all the linebackers. Though he has moved to weak side, he will still help with aligning the defensive line to assure gap control. He gives Venables an extra middle linebacker on the field. He started the last seven games of the season and still recorded 93 tackles, including six for loss.
Tony Steward, 6-1, 235, Jr. – Listed as the second team backer on the weak side. Steward had a solid spring and really came into his own, pushing Shuey for the starting job. After suffering an injury in 2011, Steward is slowly getting to that form that made him a five-star prospect coming out of high school in Hastings, FL. He played in all 13 games last year, though most of it was on special teams. The coaches believe he is ready to make serious contributions to the defense this fall.
Kellen Jones, 6-1, 215, So. – Listed as third team linebacker on the weak side and as the second-team backer in the middle. An Oklahoma transfer, Jones really came on in fall camp last August. Though he could not play because of transfer rules, he showed what kind of impact he will make for the Tigers as he consistently was making one play after another in scrimmages. Jones did the same this spring and will help the Tigers this fall. The one knock on him is the fact he sometimes will go off script and will freelance from time-to-time. That can be good and bad. Venables is trying to harness those instincts just a little, while teaching Jones how to use them to his advantage.
Stephone Anthony, 6-3, 235, Jr. – Listed as the starter at middle linebacker. Unlike Jones, Venables is trying to teach Anthony to trust his instincts a little more. Anthony has all the tools to be a great linebacker, but there are times when he hesitates, causing him to lose his edge. He spent the whole spring working at middle linebacker so he could perfect his skills a little more there, while also understanding and trusting his gut when he sees certain plays developing.
Quandon Christian, 6-2, 225, Sr. – Listed as the starting strong side backer. He is the most experienced of the linebackers with 21 starts. He had 40 tackles last season, including four tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception. Christian is tall, quick and is very rangy, which allows him to do many things for the Tigers at the strong side position. Venables is hoping Christian can turn up his abilities another notch or two as well as become a leader for the group both in the locker room and on the field.
T. J Burrell, 5-11, 215, Fr. – Listed as second-team linebacker on the strong side position. The freshman from Goose Creek, SC was redshirted last year. Had a good spring and is expected to contribute this fall. The former Shrine Bowl player had 105 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions on his way to All-State honors his senior year at Goose Creek High School.