The Best Linebacker in Troy History

A defense cannot live by linemen alone. They need someone there to back them up and lighten the load. That’s where Troy’s stellar history of linebackers comes in. The Trojans have long valued defense and our roster of the “quarterback of the defense” shows where we place that value.

Due to the overwhelming number of great players, I cut off my top players at 15. I know some will disagree with some of my choices, but that is why I am including an “Other” selection in the poll. 

As per usual, they must have won an All-America or All-Conference Honor or have set a record in the Troy record books. No current players are eligible for inclusion either.

The Players

Honorable Mentions – William Lloyd, Greg Wright, Michael Herbert, Anthony Henton, Nick Colbert, Willie Smith, Shawn Stuckey, Dale Watson

Anthony Rabb (1996-99)

• Accolades
  • All-Southland 1997, 98, 99
• Single-Game Records
  • #1 Total Tackles – 23, 1999
  • #3 (tied) Sacks – 3, 1999
• Single-Season Records
  • #2 Total Tackles – 155, 1999
  • #4 (tied) Unassisted Tackles – 85, 1999
  • #5 Assisted Tackles – 70, 1999
  • #9 Tackles for Loss – 16.5, 1999
  • #7 Yards from TFL – 81, 1999
• Career Records
  • #3 Total Tackles – 407
  • #3 Unassisted Tackles – 235
  • #4 Assisted Tackles – 172
  • #5 Tackles for Loss – 33.5
  • #8 Yards from TFL – 147
  • #12 Yards from Sacks – 92

Boris Lee (2006-09)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
• Single-Game Records
  • #8 (tied) Total Tackles – 15, 2008
• Single-Season Records
  • #5 (tied) Interception Return Touchdowns – 1, 2009
  • #3 (tied) Fumble Returns – 2, 2007
  • #2 (tied) Fumble Return TDs – 1, 2007
• Career Records
  • #5 Total Tackles – 349
  • #5 Unassisted Tackles – 203
  • #8 (tied) Assisted Tackles – 146
  • #12 Tackles for Loss – 29
  • #16 Yards from TFL – 10

Gerrick Pimienta (1985-88)

• Accolades
  • All-Gulf South Conference 1986-87, 88
• Single-Game Records
  •    None
• Single-Season Records
  • #1 and #8 Total Tackles – 198 (1987) and 131 (1986)
  • #1 Unassisted Tackles – 102, 1987
  • #1 and #10 Assisted Tackles – 96 (1987) and 60 (1986)
• Career Records
  • #1 Total Tackles – 563
  • #1 Unassisted Tackles – 307
  • #1 Assisted Tackles – 256

Naazir Yamini (1999-02)

• Accolades
  • All-Southland 2000
• Single-Game Records
  • #3 and #4 (tied) Total Tackles – 19 (2000) and 18 (2002)
• Single-Season Records
  • #9 (tied) Total Tackles – 129, 2000
• Career Records
  • #4 Total Tackles – 374
  • #4 Unassisted Tackles – 221
  • #5 Assisted Tackles – 153
  • #13 (tied) Tackles for Loss – 27
  • #18 Yards from TFL – 108
  • #18 (tied) Yards from Sacks – 76

Robert Bradley (1982-1985)

• Accolades
  • 1985 All-America
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • #4, #5, and #7 Total Tackles – 149 (1985), 141 (1983), 135 (1984)
  • #6 (tied) and #9 Unassisted Tackles – 80 (1983) and 78 (1985)
  • #3 and #8 (tied with himself) Assisted Tackles – 61 (1983 & 1984)
• Career Records
  • #2 Total Tackles – 465
  • #2 Unassisted Tackles – 257
  • #2 Assisted Tackles – 208

Tim Tucker (1975-78)

• Accolades
  • 1978 All-America
  • All-Gulf South Conference 1976, 77, 78
  • Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year 1978
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • #2 Assisted Tackles – 72, 1996
• Career Records
  • #11 Total Tackles – 311
  • #14 Unassisted Tackles – 168
  • #11 Assisted Tackles – 142

Jimmy McClain (1998-01)

• Accolades
  • All-Southland 1999 & 2000
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • #1 (tied) Interception Return TDs – 2, 1999
  • #10 Yards for Loss – 79, 2000
• Career Records
  • #7 Interception Return Yards – 219
  • #2 (tied) Interception Return TDs – 2
  • #10 Total Tackles – 325
  • #9 (tied) Unassisted Tackles – 191
  • #15 Assisted Tackles – 134

Rick Maxey (1974-77)

• Accolades
  • All-Gulf South Conference 1977
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • #10 (tied) Unassisted Tackles – 75, 1975
  • #5 (tied) Sacks – 15, 1975
• Career Records
  • #9 Total Tackles – 333
  • #6 Unassisted Tackles – 200
  • #16 Assisted Tackles – 133
  • #6 Sacks – 26

Bryan Hubbard (1985-88)

• Accolades
  • All-Gulf South Conference  1988
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • #6 Total Tackles – 137, 1987
  • #6 Assisted Tackles – 63, 1987
• Career Records
  • #6 Total Tackles – 344
  • #8 Unassisted Tackles – 192
  • #6 Assisted Tackles – 152

Stewart Lowery (1981-84)

• Accolades
  • All-Gulf South Conference 1984
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • None
• Career Records
  • #12 Total Tackles – 309
  • #16 Unassisted Tackles – 163
  • #8 (tied) Assisted Tackles – 146

Bear Woods (2005, 07-09)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt 2008, 2009
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • #8 Unassisted Tackles – 79, 2009
• Career Records
  • None

 

Tron Folsom (2016-18)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt 2017, 18
• Single-Game Records
  • #7 Total Tackles – 16, 2017
• Single-Season Records
  • #5 INT TD – 1, 2018
• Career Records
  • #9 (tied) INT TD – 1

Bernard Davis (2002-05)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt 2004, 2005
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • None
• Career Records
  • #17 Total Tackles – 273
  • #18 (tied) Assisted Tackles – 120

Leverne Johnson (2002-05)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt 2005, 
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • None
• Career Records
  • #19 Unassisted Tackles – 158
  • #15 Tackles for Loss – 25.5

Kanorris Davis (2009-12)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt 2011, 2012
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • None
• Career Records
  • #17 (tied) Unassisted Tackles – 159

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk5YDGnkN7g

These players all meant something special to the Troy defense. Let me know where they rank in your opinion by filling out the poll and letting me know on Twitter at @BenOnSports.

Poll – https://forms.gle/SxRaWc48vXR9VxbH9