Every year, Conference USA recognizes three first-team, three second-team, and three honorable-mention linebackers from the conference. With none of the nine 2023 honorees returning, the 2024 CUSA LB Rankings begin anew, giving a host of rising talents the chance to establish themselves as cream of the crop in the league.
CUSA 2024 LB Rankings
10) Kolbe Fields, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
The Kolbe Fields hype has reached a crescendo in Ruston, La. Head coach Sonny Cumbie joined the fray this offseason, saying, “Kolbe couldn’t play last year but is a guy who will make an impact on our football team in a great way.”
The 6’0″, 220-pound LB sat out the 2023 season after transferring from LSU — his second move in as many years after beginning his career at South Carolina. Fields didn’t see the field much at all in the SEC, primarily playing on special teams for both programs. He’ll have the chance to prove his worth in 2024, but we’ll need to see it first before placing him any higher on the 2024 CUSA LB Rankings.
9) Devyn Curtis, Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders
A hip injury limited Devyn Curtis’ playing time early on, but he broke out as a starter in 2022. However, the injury bug bit again last season, as he missed three games after starting the first two of the year.
Curtis didn’t start the rest of the year but still saw significant snaps, finishing the year with 45 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Assuming he’s 100% in 2024 and can return — if not improve on — his 2022 form, Curtis could vault up the list.
8) Donelius Johnson, Kennesaw State Owls
Donelius Johnson could’ve started as a true freshman for Kennesaw State, but an injury knocked him out for the 2022 campaign. He returned with a vengeance last year, playing in all nine games and registering 40 tackles (third on the team), six TFLs, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
A reliable tackler with the movement skills, instincts, and aggressive mentality coaches covet, Johnson will introduce himself to the FBS this season, not the other way around.
7) Parker Hughes, Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders
While Curtis struggled to stay on the field, the Blue Raiders struggled to keep Parker Hughes off of it. The slight-framed LB (6’2″, 212) averaged 53 snaps per game, finishing fourth on the team with 53 tackles, including seven TFLs and 2.5 sacks.
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MTSU used Hughes’ smaller, more athletic frame to its advantage, lining up along the defensive line and in the slot to blitz and cover bigger TEs on the inside. With LB1 Sam Brumfield now at Virginia Tech, the Blue Raiders will need Hughes to step into an even bigger and more versatile role in 2024.
6) Joseph Carter, Liberty Flames
Liberty’s leading returning tackler (59), Joseph Carter started the last nine games in 2023, using all of his 235 pounds to make ball carriers pay in the box. But Carter isn’t just a throwback thumper, as he moved well in coverage and rarely allowed big plays in his area.
Even more important than his run-defending and coverage prowess is Carter’s leadership, which LBs coach Josh Linam praised this summer:
“He’s a pro. He acts like a veteran out there; the guys follow him because he consistently does everything you ask him to do. He definitely has the respect and the ear of the entire team, and people listen when he talks.”
5) Zach Zimos, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
There aren’t many 6’4″ and 236-pound linebackers on the college stage and even fewer who see as much time in the slot as Zach Zimos does. The former Arkansas Razorback (2019-22) hit the ground running with the Bulldogs, recording 60 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, one sack, and one PBU in 12 games and just five starts. If Fields reaches his potential alongside Zimos, Louisiana Tech could challenge for the best LB duo in the conference.
4) Laletia Hale, Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Jacksonville State relied heavily on Quae Drake and Laletia Hale at linebacker last season, with the rest of the second-level defenders combining for just over half as many snaps as either of them. With Drake gone, the pressure is on Hale to lead the unit after notching 60 tackles and 5.5 TFLs last season.
The sixth-year senior is as reliable as they come, and with experience being the most crucial factor at the position, his leadership will be invaluable to the team’s success in 2024.
3) Terreance Ellis, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
For those unfamiliar with Terreance Ellis’ game, let me introduce you. Following two years at Rice, Ellis transferred to Alcorn State in 2022 and instantly became the team’s leader on defense.
Over the last 22 games, he has absolutely stuffed the stat sheet like a Thanksgiving turkey, amassing 191 tackles, 17.5 TFLs, eight sacks, one INT, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. The Hilltoppers need to replace 2023 starters Desmyn Baker and Aaron Key — Ellis could do so on his own.
2) Reggie Peterson, FIU Panthers
From walk-on to team captain, Reggie Peterson was one of the only bright spots from FIU’s dismal 1-7 in-conference record last season. He led the team with 104 tackles (10th in program history), which is also the most among all returning defenders in the CUSA.
Peterson exerted his dominance on opposing offenses, reaching double-digit tackles in five contests and finishing the year with 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, and a 61-yard INT. Now entering the season as the team’s oldest LB and a proven leader, Peterson is poised to anchor FIU’s defense once again in 2024.
1) Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston Bearkats
At 6’0″ and 215 pounds, Kavian Gaither may be undersized, but his athleticism more than makes up for it, allowing him to evade blockers and chase down ball carriers with ease. His background as an All-State DB in high school has made him an excellent tackler and cover LB, particularly in space.
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With 31 college games under his belt, Gaither is poised to command the unit as a senior, especially with the departure of last year’s leading tackler, Trevor Williams. Gaither already stepped up in 2022 when Williams played only four games to preserve eligibility for the FBS season, earning WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
2024 CUSA LB Rankings | 11-20
11) Teylor Jackson, Liberty
12) Drew Francis, Middle Tennessee State
13) Sone Aupiu, New Mexico State
14) Elijah Anderson-Taylor, FIU
15) Ky’won McCray, Jacksonville State
16) Sincere Jackson, Sam Houston
17) Devon Lynch, Western Kentucky
18) Dorian Hopkins, UTEP
19) Jalen Barnum, Kennesaw State
20) Tray Dunson, UTEP
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