Football Season Preview: Linebackers

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With the Bryant University football season under a month away, Bryant Athletics takes a look at the linebackers leading up to opening kickoff on September 5.

Bryant Athletics will breakdown the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends, linemen, linebackers, defensive backs and specialists.

Linebackers

One of the most experienced positions on the field, the Bulldogs welcome back a veteran group of linebackers this fall. Bryant brings back five upperclassmen that saw considerable time last year and welcome back another veteran presence as well.

Leading the way will be the junior duo of Marquise Watson (Hillside, N.J.) and Patrick Kenney (Camarillo, Calif.). The two have played in every game since stepping on campus as freshmen and have enjoyed outstanding careers to date. Named one of Bryant's captains this year, Watson is coming off a campaign in which he led the team with 80 tackles, averaging 7.3 per game. He added two sacks and 10 tackles for a loss on the year.

Kenney finished right behind his classmate, racking up 67 tackles in 11 starts. He had one sack, three tackles for a loss, forced two fumbles and intercepted two passes on the year.

Senior captain Aaron Dixon (Danbury, Conn.) also returns for the Bulldogs as he looks to put the finishing touches on a fine career. He finished with 43 tackles, two sacks and six tackles for a loss. Dixon has appeared in all 34 games over the course of his career and enters his final season with 149 career tackles.

Bryant will also feature a trio of seniors in Taylor Janoskie (Baltimore, Md.), Ryan Ferguson (Silver Spring, Md.) and Justin Robinson-Howe (East Longmeadow, Mass.). Janoskie appeared in 10 games as a linebacker and on special teams and finished with seven tackles. Ferguson also saw time on special teams and finished with 17 tackles. Robinson-Howe is back on the field after missing the last two years with injuries. He posted 19 tackles during his sophomore season in 2012.