BEAUMONT, Texas – An entire offseason has come and gone since Lamar made its run to the NCAA FCS Playoffs, and with players having officially reported for preseason camp, it's time for the 2026 version of the Cardinals to write their own chapter. It also means LamarCardinals.com will once again be posting its annual position-by-position breakdown leading up to the team's season opener Saturday, Aug. 29 at home against Abilene Christian.
 
Today LamarCardinals.com will break down the LU linebackers. 
 
LB Quick Facts:
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/2
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/1
Newcomers: 6

Stats: Lamar's defense held teams to 23.0 points per game (a number that dropped to fewer than 20 in Southland only games) and ranked third in the league in total defense. In conference only games, Lamar surrendered fewer than 295.6 yards of offense per game. The Cardinals also ranked third in the league in sacks (30 for 175 yards in losses and ranked among the league leaders with 88 tackles for losses). Most importantly, when Lamar's defense wanted to it tightened the screws on opponents. Big Red held five opponents to 17 or fewer points last season including 13 against No. 4 South Dakota and 12 to No. 19 Southeastern Louisiana.
 
Key Player: Andrew Huff (6-2, 230, Sr.) played in and started all 13 games last season and returns this year the team's second-leading tackler (60 total, 20 solo, 10.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, a forced fumbled and a blocked kick.
 
The Storyline
If you will recall last season when LamarCardinals.com started doing the position previews, it was the LU linebackers that were light on the returning starter side of things. At that time, we talked about – looking forward – how exciting this position would be this year if everyone (with eligibility) returned. Well, next year is now this year and the heart of that position group has returned.
 
Led by a preseason All-American (Huff), this group should not only be a strength for the Red and White, but one of the better groups in the Southland if not the country. Huff is a difference maker. A two-time league defensive player of the week last season, Huff enters this season as the first player in program history to be named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List – the award given annually to FCS football's top defensive player. He is an intimidating presence standing 6-2, 230 pounds – that is 6-2, 230 pounds of muscle mass and speed attacking the ball on every play. Huff alone will require a ton of attention freeing up others in the middle of the Cardinals' defense and the rest of the linebacking corps is a pretty loaded group.
 
In addition to Huff, Lamar also returns C.J. Miller (6-0, 229, Jr.) who started 10 games a year ago and really came into his own. Miller – the team's top return tackler – posted 71 stops during his sophomore season, including 24 unassisted and 7.0 for losses. Another returning veteran, is Jackson Bandy (6-3, 233, Jr.) who played in 11 games during his sophomore season and ended the year listed second on the depth chart right behind Huff.
 
Those names alone – if that was all that was returning – would be enough for fans to feel like this group is going to be a strength, and we have yet to mention Koda Canady who was forced to redshirt last season. Canady appeared to be on the brink of huge year before it was cut short in camp. All Canady has done since is return for 2026 preseason camp bigger and stronger. If he can have the impact most expected last year, well this group just went from being deep to dominant.
 
Again, if that was all that was returning, it's enough to make the most pessimistic fans excited for the start of a new season. I hope by now you've picked up on our excitement for this group (and team as a whole). We still have not mentioned returning letterwinners Etelridge McMinney (6-0, 232, So.) or Isaac Blessing (6-2, 241, So.), or the Mid-County Madness duo of Albert Simon III (6-2, 232, So.) and Mason Wuenschel (6-2, 231, Redshirt Fr.). Both were prized signees in the 2025 signing class (Wuenschel on Early Signing Day and Simon on National Signing Day. Daiki Yoshikawa is back for his third season and is currently one of just a few Japanese-born players in currently in college football.
 
With all the above talent – and the word talent here is understated – the LU coaching staff went out and added to the ranks. Some of those new additions will work their way into the rotation and push for starting roles. The Cardinals added six newcomers to the ranks including two transfers. Dawson Washington (6-0, 202, So., Southwestern JC) and T.J. Nelson (6-1, 220, So., Bowling Green) are the transfers while Kamron Hall (6-2, 196), Qwardai Peoples (6-2, 205), Pierce Pirtle (6-0, 215) and Malcolm Graham (6-3, 215) arrive in Beaumont following standout high school careers. That group will be joined by Jacob Hyder (6-1, 196, Fr.) who redshirted the 2025 campaign.