Colorado University Athletics
Brown, Hill-Green Give Buffs Depth, Versatility At Inside Linebacker
August 22, 2024 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Early in fall camp, Colorado insider linebackers coach André Hart figured his two starters inside were set.
Returnees LaVonta Bentley and Trevor Woods — the second- and third-leading tacklers on the team last fall — appeared to be firmly entrenched at the spots.
But as camp progressed, the competition heated up. Now, Hart believes he has at least four players who can rotate into the two spots, thanks to the steady development of Jeremiah Brown and Nikhai Hill-Green.
Brown, a senior, has made big strides since last year. A transfer from Jackson State who followed Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders to Boulder, he has made the transition from edge rusher to inside 'backer after playing mostly special teams a year ago (with one start vs. Oregon).
Hill-Green, a transfer who played previously at Charlotte and Michigan, brings a wealth of experience to the table, along with a nose for the run game — an area that is in big need of improvement.
"Nikhai and Jeremiah are making a really big push, and so we've been mixing these guys up," Hart said. "I always talk about competition keeping them up at night, but now they're keeping me up at night because I'm trying to think who's going to be that guy for me and they've been playing really well. I'm excited to see who's going to come out on top, but I feel good with any four of those guys going."
The added competition means the Buffs have players ready for specific situations as well as much-needed depth — a critical part of the equation when it comes to keeping fresh legs in the game down the stretch.
Brown, an outstanding athlete, can play the run, rush the passer and drop into coverage. Woods, a converted safety who has added about 20 pounds to his frame since the switch, can do the same. Bentley and Hill-Green bring a measure of physicality inside that brings punch to the run defense.
Combined, they give Hart and defensive coordinator Robert Livingston the luxury of versatility as well as the ability to leave players in for an entire series and not have to worry about trying to match up to specific situations.
"Now you can do multiple things," Hart said. "Let's think about certain packages now that you don't have to sub where we can just get to it right now and it keeps the offense a little bit on their feet. They can't say, 'Oh, here comes 42 so let's do this now.' It's, 'Oh, he's already in the game because he can play inside 'backer. Now he can go on the edge, and there's no adjustment to it. It just gives you a lot of good options."
The development of Brown has perhaps been one of the more pleasant surprises of fall camp. His experience as an edge rusher is a plus and his athleticism has helped him adapt to playing inside.
"When we're talking about any type of pressures, he has that ability to do that," Hart said. "But then he has a physical set that in certain packages he can set at edge, because he did play end, and then he can run. I mean, he really can run."
Brown's work ethic has also paid off.
"He's a try-hard kid," Hart said. "Every day, he's up at five o'clock in the morning in the indoor (facility) stretching in the dark … I'm happy with his progress. He's taken great notes and he's really locked in this year. His development has just been something remarkable to see. When game day comes, I think you guys are going to be talking about him and what he can bring to our packages on defense."
Hill-Green's experience — he started his career at Michigan — has also been a plus for the entire group.
"The biggest thing that Nikhai has brought is just that professional attitude on how to talk loud, early and often, how to get those calls out and make sure you know we're playing as a unit," Hart said. "You don't have to just say such and such call. You can call somebody's name, and he does that, and now the other guys get that. You want to make sure the communication is getting over there. There's a lot more talking, there's a lot more activity, there's a lot more high five, because everybody's on the same page. And now that's rotating to those other linebackers. They're doing the same thing. His impact, as far as showing how to be a professional, has been unvalued."
Bentley, meanwhile, proved to be one of the steadiest players on defense last season for the Buffs, appearing in all 12 games and finishing with 68 tackles, including five sacks. Woods, who made the move from safety to linebacker midway through the season, finished with 56 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery despite missing three games because of injury.
But while they all may have different skill sets, they also have to have one common goal: stopping the run. CU last season finished 107th in the nation in rush defense, allowing more than 176 yards per game.
"It has to be mentality first," Hart said. "To play linebacker you have to have the mentality to want to run down and put your face in the fan, to get in there and mix it up with the D-line and the O-linemen."
