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South Dakota State University Athletics
1st and Goal ? Jackrabbit Linebackers
4/2/2015 10:33:00 AM | Football
Throughout Spring Football, GoJacks.com will take an in-depth look at various position groups. The second installment of 1st and Goal focuses on the Jackrabbit linebackers.
South Dakota State returns all three starting linebackers from last year's squad that posted a 9-5 record and made its third consecutive appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
Leading the Jackrabbit corps of linebackers is senior T.J. Lally. Poised to be a four-year starter at middle linebacker, Lally posted the second 100-tackle season of his career in 2014, leading the squad with 117 total tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss. A team captain, Lally registered double figures for tackles in five games, including a 20-tackle performance in the regular season matchup with North Dakota State that ranks as the highest single-game tackle total in the Division I era (since 2004).
Lally is flanked by returning starter Jesse Bobbit and Dallas Brown, both juniors. Bobbit enjoyed a strong second half to the 2014 season and finished third on the team with 90 tackles. He also led the squad with two forced fumbles.
Brown, a converted defensive back, tied for sixth on the team with 49 tackles. He also returned an interception for touchdown in the Jackrabbits' road win at Northern Iowa last season.
Sophomore J.T. Hassell displayed big-play ability and made the most of his limited reps during his true freshman season in 2014. Hassell finished his freshman campaign with 41 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack and an interception.
The remainder of the Jackrabbits who filled spots on the two-deep a season ago all return, but depth is an issue during spring practice as a number of linebackers are being held out or limited due to injury.
Junior Tom Peitz (23 tackles) served as Lally's backup at middle linebacker last season, while seniors Drew Kreutzfeldt (10 tackles) and Patrick Schuster (14 tackles) backed up at the outside positions.
Sophomore Austin Benson split time between linebacker and fullback for the Jackrabbits last season, but is back in camp on the defensive side of the ball this spring.
Going through their first spring practices are redshirt freshmen Dalton Cox and Emmanuel Ehrich. Cox was honored as the team's Scout Defense Player of the Year in 2014.
Next Installment: Tight Ends (April 7)
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