Georgia football: how the Bulldogs will improve at linebacker

Jack Linebacker

Walker’s graduation opens the door for Brenton Cox and Robert Beal on the edge. Both were two of the most highly coveted defensive ends/linebackers of the last two recruiting classes. And each saw the field a ton in 2018 in backup roles.

247Sports Composite ranked Beal no. 107 nationally in 2017. Out of weak-side defensive ends, they ranked him no. 8. In the 2018 class. Cox ranked higher than Beal at no. 23 overall by 247Sports Composite. He was also ranked the no. 2 strong-side defensive end. In Mel Tucker’s 3-4 personnel, Cox and Beal moved to jack linebacker because of their pass rushing ability.

Because of Cox’s high recruiting ranking, it comes as no surprise that he saw playing time immediately as a freshman. He walked onto campus at 6-4, 247 pounds, ideal size for the position in the SEC. Beal didn’t see the field much in 2017, mostly because he had Walker and Lorenzo Carter ahead of him on the depth chart. Beal also needed to gain some size. He was 6-3, and just 230 pounds when he arrived at Georgia. Since then, he’s grown an inch and has bulked up to 244 pounds. He now has the size to compliment the skill set needed to excel in the SEC.