Linebackers
Daniel: Another very active game for A.J. Johnson and Jalen Reeves-Maybin. JRM especially stepped up, recording six tackles, a sack and a pair of TFLs. Dillon Bates and Chris Weatherd also both got several quality reps. ASU moved the ball in spurts, but the linebackers did a good job overall keeping the run game in check and helping out in pass coverage. Grade: B
Houston: A.J. Johnson and Jalen Reeves-Maybin combined for 16 tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss and a pass broken up – a productive day for those two. The linebackers did a nice job, for the most part, of keeping Knighten from breaking the long, devastating runs and did well on tight ends and backs on pass routes. It was a solid day against a team that had the type of players that can put a lot of pressure on a linebacking corps. Grade: B
Reed: Once again, A.J. Johnson was all over the field. He’s making a ton more tackles close to the line of scrimmage and has improved his pass coverage. Jalen-Reeves Maybin stopped Arkansas State on 4th down when he held on to the ankle of an Ark State running back and brought him down. This unit did a nice job of containing the dangerous Knighten for much of the day. Nothing spectacular from this group, but they were more than solid. Grade: B+
