2021 Bearkat Football Preview: Linebackers

Returners: Trevor Williams, Trey Fields, Ysidro Mascorro, Quentin Brown, Jaylen Phillips, Rance McInnis, Danzell Sims, Markel Perry, Goodness Nwawuihe, Trey Mappe, Nick Abengowe
Newcomers: Tim Hart, Darien Flynn, Luke Horne

HUNTSVILLE – Power, speed and experience are trademarks of good linebacker play, and Sam Houston's linebacking corps is overflowing with all three. They were a force to be reckoned with in the 2020 season, and that group of playmakers are all back to defend the national title.

Trevor Williams, Quentin Brown, and Markel Perry were the mainstays among the linebackers in 2020, and each of them received all-conference selections. They led the 2020 defense that held opposing offenses to fewer than 100 rushing yards all season up until the national championship, finishing with the 12th-ranked rush defense in the country. The Sam Houston defense also finished with the most TFLs in the country with 100, in big part due to the linebackers.

The 2020 season was good to Trevor Williams, to say the least. He led the Kats in total tackles with 88, was an All-Southland conference second team member, and tied for the FCS lead with 15.0 TFLs on the season. The junior LB and leader of the Bearkat defense has a nose for the ball, and you can often find him wreaking havoc in opponents backfields.

Brown, in his first year with Sam Houston after transferring in from Tulane, was an instant impact starter finishing as a first team All-Southland selection and totaling 33 tackles to go with 9.0 TFLs. His length and speed helped him to make plays all over the field.

Rounding out the all-conference selections from 2020 for the Kats is Perry. As a member of the All-Southland second team, he totaled 40 tackles and 6.5 sacks as the Beaumont natives' physical presence was seen week in and week out. He was especially good during the playoff run, setting a career high with 3.0 sacks vs Monmouth while also forcing an early fumble vs North Dakota State that helped set the tone for the game.

While these guys took up most of the snaps, there were some young guys that saw some action and got to learn from some of the best in the FCS.

A trio of true freshmen in Jaylen Phillips, Ysidro Mascorro, and Trey Fields saw their fair share of playing time. Phillips saw time in each of the Kats' 10 games and finished with 5.0 TFLs as well as an interception and fumble recovery. Mascorro also appeared in every game with notable contributions on special teams and collected 18 tackles and a sack. Fields saw action in three games, making a tackle in each. Redshirt freshman Rance McInnis was a mainstay on special teams and grabbed 13 tackles on the year.

Other returners that did not see action include senior Danzell Sims who dealt with an injury throughout the year. A trio of true freshmen in Goodness Nwawuihe, Trey Mappe, and Nick Abengowe did not see action in their first season.

Coach Jared Hensley will welcome two transfers this season as well. Luke Horne comes to Huntsville from Colorado, while Memphis transfer Tim Hart was a midyear addition last year and practiced on the Bearkats' scout team as he was ineligible due to transfer rules. While at Memphis he appeared in 41 games, starting 13 of them. He had 32 multi-tackle games including 6.5 TFLs.

The Kats also added one linebacker out of high school from the 2021 class, Darien Flynn from Pearland Dawson High School.

2021 Bearkat Football Preview: Linebackers

Players Mentioned

Nick Abengowe

Quentin Brown

Trey Fields

Darien Flynn

Tim Hart

Luke Horne

Trey Mappe

Ysidro Mascorro

Rance McInnis

Goodness Nwawuihe

Markel Perry

Jaylen Phillips

Danzell Sims

Trevor Williams

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