Aug. 5, 2005
The following is the fifth installment of a look inside the Texas State football program position by position. The secondary will be featured next week.
SAN MARCOS -
Jeff Brown is a three-year letter winner. David Simmons is a returning All-Southland Conference First-Team selection. Jeremy Castillo begins his third year and has been in the Bobcats' starting rotation since his freshman year. For Texas State linebackers coach Darin Eliot, it's easy to see why he has a lot of confidence in the Bobcats' rotation at the two linebacker positions.
"They all know the defense very well," Eliot said of the trio. "Their experience is going to be very beneficial for us. They make a lot of the checks and adjustments for our defensive front plus we put them in position to make a lot of plays. Having three players there that we feel confident in will be great for our defense."
And Texas State will benefit from having three seasoned players returning who for the first time in their collegiate careers will be a part of the same defensive scheme for two straight years.
Castillo, who begins his junior season, was the Bobcats' leading tackler in 2004 when he registered 52 total stops. He had 40 solo tackles and 24 assists. The Corsicana native also ranked third on the team in tackles for loss, broke up four passes and had a 54-yard interception return to set up a touchdown in the Bobcats' Southland Conference win at McNeese State.
Brown started just one game last year but was the third backer in the rotation last year and has plenty of experience from three seasons as a `Cat. He's the best blitzer of the bunch and with his size is a very physical player. Last year he ranked fifth in total tackles with 36 total stops, including 2.5 tackles for lost yards. He also had an interception broke up two passes during the season.
Despite missing three games with a knee injury, Simmons' play when he was in the line-up propelled him to First-Team All-Southland Conference honors. In eight games, Simmons registered 34 tackles, including 10 for a total of 21 lost yards, intercepted a pass, broke up two more passes and recovered a fumble. Two years ago as a sophomore, he led the team in tackles with 76.5 total stops.
Heading into his senior year, his leadership has been very evident.
"David has been in a position to influence guys on this team for quite awhile," Eliot said. "He has been able to earn their respect through his playing ability. He realizes now how important it is for him to be a leader and he has accepted that role. Every day I see him improve in that area more and more."
While Castillo is listed as the starter at Sam linebacker and Simmons is listed at Mike linebacker with Brown also listed at mike on the two-deep, all three can play either position.
In differentiating the two positions which have a lot of similarities, the Sam linebacker is called on to make a majority of the adjustments, checks and calls. The Mike linebacker will draw more isolation blocks from the fullback and has to be a more physical player. The Mike linebacker position also will draw more difficult coverages in defending against the pass.
Junior Olushola Obafemi made major strides during spring camp after moving from safety to the sam linebacker position where he will back up Castillo. As a defensive back last year he was credited with 4.5 tackles, including one for a loss.
Behind the first four players on the depth chart, Texas State returns red-shirted freshmen Courtney Smith and Kevin Rogers, squadman Jeff Gotte, who is coming off two knee injuries and Texas Lutheran transfer Cameron Dunk.
"The biggest question mark will be our depth," Eliot said. "We have to determine how players like Shola Obafemi and Courtney Smith are going to play. If they play up to the potential that I think they have, then we will have great depth at the position."
