BEAUMONT, Texas – With preseason camp complete and the Cardinals transitioning into game week prep mode, www.LamarCardinals.com is continuing its annual position-by-position breakdown of the team heading into the season opener at Texas State (Aug. 31, 2024).
 
Today LamarCardinals.com will break down the LU linebackers.
 
DL Quick Facts:
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 6/6
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/1
Newcomers: 11

 
Stats: After a bit of slow start (which is really unfair to say considering Lamar's non-conference schedule last season), the Cardinals ended the year ranked third in the league in total defense (371.0 ypg), sixth in rushing (190.9 ypg), second in passing (180.1 ypg) and second in scoring (23.5 ppg). Not bad for a young squad, and let's not forget those numbers were skewed just a bit by the fact that Lamar faced two eventual national seeds in the FCS playoffs and one FBS squad. Lamar's linebackers accounted for 284 total tackles and 24.5 tackles for losses last season.
 
Key Player: Jalen Freeman – might just be the most underrated player on the defense and potentially the league. An intimidating presence who casts a long shadow, Freeman has played in 37 games recording 22 starts during his career recording 107 career stops including 43 unassisted. Not only is he a veteran presence for the Cardinals but an extension of the coaches on the field.
 
The Storyline
Throughout the position previews, we've noted the amount of returning depth and while the linebackers have veterans back this could be the one position that was hit the hardest due to attrition from last season. While LU returns two starters and six returning letterwinners it also lost six letterwinners from last year's squad – so you can understand why Freeman's return takes on even greater significance from a leadership role.
 
Lamar did lose six letterwinners from last year's team but the Cardinals do return all but two players from the depth chart heading into last season's regular-season finale against McNeese – so depending on how you perceive things the cup is either half full or half empty. Since I'm doing the writing we will proceed with the "cup" being half full perspective
 
Freeman's backup last season was listed as either Jase Williams or Koda Canady. While Williams wrapped up his time with the Red and White last season, Canady returns from a rookie season that saw him play in six games making 11 tackles.
 
The Mike 'backer spot lost Foday Jalloh – a starter – but returns the second man on the depth chart in Brayden Faulkner. A Waco, Texas native, Faulkner is entering his third season with the program. Although not listed as the returning starter at the position, he played in 11 games and did record a start on the year. He has played in 17 games during his career with 37 career stops and was a key factor in an improved defense a season ago.
 
The other linebacker spot returns starter Robert Bonar and backup Ken Savanah. Bonar played in and started all 11 games last season making 52 tackles, including 16 solo stops and have five for losses, while Savanah was a regular part of the rotation playing in all 11 games making 30 tackles.
 
The Cardinals have used the transfer portal to help fill needs at linebacker in the past ­– both Bonar (Utah) and Savanah (Houston) came to Lamar via the portal. Another returnee – Oliver Jack (seven games, seven tackles) – also made his way to the Golden Triangle last season from Houston. The coaching staff is hoping the portal will do the same for Big Red again this year.
 
The Cardinals added transfers Tah Banda (Marshall) and Hamilton Moore (Yale) to the roster for the 2024 campaign. While Banda transferred to LU from the Thundering Herd, he has experience with the Southland Conference having started his career at UIW where he recorded 35 tackles for the league's other Cardinals.
 
While Moore is new to the Cardinals, he should be considered a veteran. Originally signing with Yale out of high school, Moore is entering his sixth year of NCAA Division I football. A true freshman with the Bulldogs in 2019, Moore lost the entire 2020 season as the Ivy League did not compete due to the COVID pandemic. A former All-Ivy League selection, Moore ended the 2023 season third on his team with 51 tackles (34 unassisted) and picked off two passes. Let's face it, the Cardinals had great luck dipping into the Ivy League in 2023 (Josh Ofili), and while the two play different positions there is nothing wrong with hoping lightning strikes twice.
 
The remainder of the newcomers at linebacker come from the freshman class as the coaching staff added nine freshmen at the position. The underclassmen have the ability to look to several older players for guidance as they move forward through the season. It will be exciting to see who emerges from this group as the next star in the middle of Lamar's defense.