Carson-Newman Football Position Previews: The Linebackers
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first part in an eight-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football’s positions for the 2019 season. This feature breaks down the Eagle linebackers with assistance from Scott Brock.
VIDEO: Scott Brock Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first part in an eight-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2019 season. This feature breaks down the Eagle linebackers with assistance from Scott Brock.
"Those guys have grown so much because of how many meetings and practices we've had," Brock said. "We weren't getting ready for anybody for the longest time. They used that time to come a long way and get better."
That's high praise for a group that features preseason All-American Rondrow Peebles (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Daniel Dixon-Brooks (Greenville, S.C.) who ranked third on the team in tackles with 65 in 2019.
"Rondrow is really just in his second year playing linebacker," Brock said. "His upside is off the charts. For him to make All-America after transitioning from the defensive backfield, that's a blessing from above."
Peebles wasa Carson-Newman's first All-American linebacker since Jaycob Coleman garnered the honor in 2013. Peebles earned a pair of SAC Defensive Player of the Week awards last year. He was Carson-Newman's leading tackler with 93 stops. Peebles also had 18.0 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks.
He tallied a game-changing interception against Limestone. Peebles was named national player of the week following his 12-tackle, 3.5-tackle for loss, 1.5-sack performance on opening night against West Florida.
The 12 tackles are one of four double-digit tackle efforts on the year. He had 11 stops against Catawba, Newberry and Limestone. Peebles tied Temoris Coats for the third most TFL in a single season in program history with 18. His nine sacks are the most by a Carson-Newman linebacker in a single season.
Meanwhile, Dixon-Brooks made an impact in his first season at Carson-Newman, appearing in all 12 games with starts in 11 games. Dixon-Brooks was third on the team in tackles for the year with 65 stops. He also had six tackles for loss and a sack to go along with a pair of quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. Dixon-Brooks had a pair of double-digit tackle efforts. His breakout performance came at Wingate (9/21) with 14 stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. He also showed up big in the opening round of the playoffs with 10 tackles and a sack at Bowie State (11/23). He had a season-high 2.5 tackles for loss on Homecoming against Newberry (10/26).
"DD is 100 all the time," Brock said. "If he messes up, he's still going 100 miles per hour. That's the great thing about Daniel, he sets the tone for everyone else."
Caleb Goins (Bristol, Tenn.) and Alonzo Houston (Wimauma, Fla.) round out returners with significant playing experience for the Eagles.
A reliable member of Carson-Newman's linebacking corps, Houston appeard in 11 games with a trio of starts in 2019. He made 43 tackles with a half tackle for loss and a pair of quarterback hurries. Houston reset his career high with a 10-tackle performance at Wingate (9/21). He also notched a seven-tackle day against UNC Pembroke (10/5).
A reserve linebacker in 2019, Goins appeared in 10 games on the year with four tackles, including two tackles for a loss and a sack. He also recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown against Catawba (10/12). He had a multi-tackle for loss game at Mars Hill (11/2) where he also produced his lone sack of the year.
Carson-Newman will also turn to transfers Frank Lee (Orangeburg, S.C.) who transfers in from Spartanburg Methodist and Kyaire Bynum (Lancaster, Pa.), who comes from Johnson C. Smith to add value at the position.
Carson-Newman's position previews continue Thursday with the quarterbacks.
