Kansas University defensive coordinator Carl Torbush said Monday he felt good about the group of linebackers running with his defense.
There was, however, a catch.
“If we’ve got everybody completely healthy, I think we’ve got six or seven linebackers we can get in the ballgame who can get the job done,” Torbush said. “It’ll be a concern if we don’t have ’em all well.”
KU sophomore Huldon Tharp missed Monday’s practice because of a foot injury. Tharp, who started seven games and was fifth on the team in tackles (59) in 2009, was seen walking around with a boot on his left foot.
The injury to Tharp leaves the linebacker position wide open heading into Saturday’s spring game, as senior Drew Dudley, a starter who was second on the team in tackles (88) in 2009, has been limited to non-contact drills this spring.
That leaves KU with just one linebacker — senior Justin Springer — with significant playing time under his belt and a host of unknowns.
That’s why the coaching staff has treated Tharp with caution since he suffered the injury.
“He’s going to be fine,” Torbush said. “If somebody’s hurt in the spring, we’re not going to take a chance on him getting hurt worse. I know what he can do. I’d rather have him out there, but at the same time it gives some of these other guys a chance to get some reps and show what they can do.”
Included on that list are: Jordan Fee, Steven Johnson, Dakota Lewis, Steve Mestan, Ryan Nelson, Chea Peterman, Josh Richardson and Jacoby Thomas. Of that bunch, Johnson has been the most impressive this spring.
“He’s playing outside at this point in time,” Kansas coach Turner Gill said. “I think he’s a multi-talented guy who could play either way, the mike (middle) linebacker or either one of the outsides.”
Johnson said Monday that he, Springer and Richardson had worked with the first group during most drills.
“There’s no set depth chart,” Johnson said. “There’s a group one, group two and group three. Group ones get most of the reps, but there are a lot of other linebackers that are getting equal reps and continuing to get better.”
First group or third, Johnson just wants a chance to play.
At 6-foot-1, 237 pounds, the Pennsylvania native possesses the kind of speed and athleticism the rest of the unit lacks. However, he has played in just 12 games during his career, mostly on special teams.
This spring, he picked up the new defense quickly and showed he could be a reliable playmaker. Like everyone else, Johnson has been impressed with Springer during the past four weeks. But he said he believed that the fresh start under Gill had improved his play, too.
“Right now, Just Springer looks good,” Johnson said. “Drew Dudley, he hasn’t had much contact this spring, but in seven-on-seven drills he looked good in there. And when I get in there, I feel I’m just as good. I feel I can play any position, just put me on the field and I can play.”
It’s that kind of attitude that has the KU linebacking corps believing it can be one of the top units in the Big 12 this season. Prior to being injured, Tharp said he was pleased with what he had seen.
“I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily the most physically imposing group,” he said. “Not all of us are 250-pound linebackers that are running 4.5s out there. But we put in the work and we all click together. That’s what’s most important.”
Added Springer: “I think we’re a lot faster as a group. We give more effort, we’re flying to the ball more, a little bit more downhill. We’re actually a lot stronger than we were last year.”