Most crucial Jayhawks 2015: No. 16 – LB Courtney Arnick

By Matt Tait     Jul 31, 2015

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Kansas defenders Courtney Arnick (28) and Michael Reynolds (55) try to bring down Texas Tech running back DeAndre Washington during the third quarter on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.

Back-to-back linebackers in the middle of the list, as today’s entry follows up South Carolina transfer Marcquis Roberts.

Both guys figure to have important roles on this year’s defense, where they will be asked not only to replace fifth-round NFL draft pick Ben Heeney, but also would-be senior Jake Love, who stepped away from football with one year of eligibility remaining due to medical issues.

Heeney and Love provided the Jayhawks with that classic linebacker mentality and a ton of toughness and play-making ability.

Is there another Jayhawk waiting in the wings who can do the same?

Here’s a look at No. 16:

16. Courtney Arnick, 6-foot-2, 207-pound Jr. Linebacker
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The Dallas native has spent most of his KU career under the radar but that’s about to change.

Arguably the most talented and productive returning player at a very thin position, Arnick’s importance to this year’s team cannot be overlooked. He might not be the kind of guy who can step in by himself and replace the production of departed middle linebacker Ben Heeney, but don’t tell him that. Arnick is an incredibly confident guy who has gotten better each year and just now seems to be figuring out how to use his strengths to his advantage.

Perhaps his biggest strength is his speed. Toward the end of the 2014 season Arnick consistently flew to the football and used his wheels to make plays or help clean up tackles started by other guys.

At just a touch over 200 pounds, he’s never going to be a guy who knocks running backs on their butts or lowers a boom heard ’round the world. But that doesn’t stop him from being productive and it also does not mean he’s afraid to hit.

Last season, Arnick finished sixth on the team with 45 tackles — 34 solo — and added four tackles for loss and a sack. He got better as the season moved on — as his 10-tackle performance in the second-to-last game of the season at OU showed — and started five games while playing in all 12.

At this point, Arnick seems a little like one of those guys from whom the Jayhawks know what they’re going to get. But that does not make his role any less vital. The KU roster has a handful of bodies to choose from when the coaches go to fill out their linebacker rotation this season. But the unit is going to need a lead dog and it could be Arnick’s turn to slide into that spot, both statistically speaking and as a leader.

In talking to him, it seems as if he’s up for the challenge. Now he just has to show it.

**Most Crucial Jayhawks 2015:**

No. 25 – WR Derrick Neal

No. 24 – S Fish Smithson

No. 23 – S Greg Allen

No. 22 – OL Junior Visinia

No. 21 – CB Tyrone Miller Jr.

No. 20 – OL De’Andre Banks

No. 19 – S Tevin Shaw

No. 18 – WR Chase Harrell

No. 17 – LB Marcquis Roberts

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.