FLORENCE, Ala. (August 7, 2024) – The University of North Alabama football team has just one practice remaining at the Bill Jones Athletic Complex before moving practices to Cox Creek Sports Complex next Monday. The Lions practiced in full pads on Wednesday.
The final practice scheduled at the current facility, which has hosted UNA football practices for decades, will be on Friday. The Lions will practice at the new site to allow construction to begin on Bank Independent Stadium, starting August 12.
For the month of August leading up to opening week, RoarLions.com will release breakdowns of every position. Today's spotlight is on the linebackers.
There are 12 players listed on the roster at linebacker, led by returning senior
Shaun Myers who is the third-leading tackler among returners from last season. He finished with 58 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions.
"Fall camp has been great, especially for the linebackers," said Myers. "We improved so much throughout the spring and then now at fall camp. We have a great group. Everyone can play in our room. We're playing a lot faster and a lot more physical, and we know the defense is a lot better."
Seven other linebackers with game experience at UNA return, including redshirt senior
Rush Lansdell, senior
A.J. Phillips and redshirt junior
Ashaad Williams who as a trio combined for 88 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and seven pass breakups.
The Lions also brought in two linebackers expected to contribute right away, including Muscle Shoals native
Jackson Bratton who transferred to UNA after two seasons at UAB and two at Alabama. The former four-star recruit recorded 70 tackles for UAB last season to rank second on the team. The Lions also added true freshman
Josh Anglin out of Mill Creek High School in Georgia, who is already making his presence felt at fall camp.
"I agree with Shaun that this has been a really good camp," said Bratton. "We've both been enjoying it because we know we have some backups — the whole room can play. We've got young guys, freshmen — we have a full room. I really don't think we have much to worry about in our room. We've had a good fall camp as a unit, and we just need to keep taking steps to progress."
This position group is led by Coach Deshaun Davis, a former All-SEC linebacker at Auburn who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2019 NFL Draft. He enters his second season at UNA.
"We have guys just flying around man," said Davis. "We have a really veteran group now and a lot of starters that returned back from last season, so those guys are getting better in their second year in the system. They understand what we want as coaches and what we're trying to do as a defense. We're just coming out here, applying our principles and getting 11 hats to the ball. On the defensive side of the ball, sometimes you make mistakes — but effort fixes that. If we can get 11 guys to the ball, I think we can be a really great unit."
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