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Linebackers Expected To Lead Mean Green Defense In 2005

Courtesy: University of North Texas

Release: 08/08/2005

In anticipation of two-a-days on Wednesday, MeanGreenSports.com breaks down the 2005 North Texas football team position by position. With a year under their belts, the Linebackers are once again the backbone of the Mean Green defense.

user posted image

Courtesy: Rick Yeatts

Brandon Monroe and the Mean Green open the season at LSU on Sept. 3.

More green than mean heading into the 2004 season, the North Texas linebackers adjusted quickly to form one of the most intimidating corps in the conference. Led by middle linebacker Derek Mendoza, the group should once again be the strength of the Mean Green defense.

Mendoza started 10 games last season and led the team in tackles in four of them. He ranked fifth on the team with 53 tackles. With deceptive speed, Mendoza developed into a pass defense specialist, leading the team in pass breakups with five.

Shawn Early returns as the veteran leader for the Mean Green linebackers this season. In 2004 the two-year letterman tied for third on the team with 61 tackles. At Utah State, Early hauled in seven tackles, a sack and recovered a fumble. Early is a question mark heading into the season opener at Louisiana State after a knee injury in spring drills required off-season surgery.

As a freshman, Brandon Monroe made waves around the conference by registering 63 tackles last season. Hailing from 2A Electra High School, Monroe quickly transitioned to the college game, tallying a game-high 11 tackles against Florida Atlantic in just his second game.

Phillip Graves started only one game last season and still racked up 50 tackles on the year. Graves will figure prominently in the linebacker rotation once again in 2005.

Transfer Travis Thompson and Maurice Holman will also contend for a spot in the linebacker two-deep roster. At NE Oklahoma A&M, Thompson led the conference with 95 tackles and 69 assists to go with six sacks and 17 tackles for losses. Holman led the team in tackles at the New Orleans Bowl last year and hauled in 19 tackles in 11 games.

Arther McNac and redshirt freshman Colt Mahan are expected to provide depth for the Mean Green defense. McNac, a senior, saw action in five games as a backup last year and notched seven tackles on the season, including a four-tackle performance at Texas.

Tomorrow, MeanGreenSports.com will look at how North Texas will fill two all-conference voids in the secondary.

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