What are the Aggies going to do at linebacker?

(this is part of the 30 questions/30 days series on the Texas A&M football team)

Answer: Get a lot younger, and a lot faster.

The Aggies are allegedly running a 3-4 scheme with a "Jack" hybrid defensive end/linebacker position being played by Von Miller. Considering Miller (and Matt Featherston) are looking more like quick defensive ends than anything resembling a linebacker, it may be more appropriate to say the Aggies will probably be starting three young and inexperienced LBs.

The days of Mark Dodge and Misi Tupe are gone; A&M may have the youngest linebacking corps in the conference.

The only returning player with any semblance of experience is OLB Garrick Williams, who would start if the season began today. Williams was throw in to the fire last year and has an idea of what to expect, but is serviceable and not much more. Redshirt freshman Kyle Mangan has beaten out Anthony Lewis and will start at MLB, and reports are that he's the real deal. If so, it would be a pleasant development. Ricky Cavanaugh, who has freakish athletic ability but is still raw, has put on an estimated 15 pounds of muscle and will probably start at the other OLB position. Whether he's developed his skill set remains in question. If it ever clicks for Cavanaugh, he has the potential to be dominant.

Even if Williams, Mangan and Cavanaugh perform, a number of true freshman are going to play anyway. Four-star linebacker Jonathan Stewart has the size (6'4", 221 lbs.), strength and speed to step in and play immediately and will probably do just that. He could be starting be conference play at one of the OLB slots. His early performance hasn't changed the perception that he's going to be an outstanding college linebacker. Sean Porter, Aaron Arteburn, Malcom Johnson, Andrew Weaver and Michael Lamothe may all get on the field at some point this year, because--if nothing else--they're faster than nearly all the other LBs already on campus.

The current crop of linebackers is young and, consequently, will experience growing pains. But they've got a lot of talent and with at least two keepers in Mangan and Stewart, are an improvement over last season. That improvement just may not be apparent immediately.