The injury bug hit the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s linebacker room harder than any other position group last year.
UAPB will be hoping for better health this fall as that group looks to replace its transfer portal losses and help improve the Golden Lion defense.
Injuries sidelined promising freshmen Kyle Vocque and Jonathan Goins, who both entered the portal after the season. Further injuries left UAPB with as few as three healthy linebackers at one point, forcing running back Johness Davis to finish the season at linebacker despite having never played the position before.
Jaden Kelly was one of the few linebackers to play every game last season, and he finished as UAPB’s leading tackler with 91 stops. He has since signed with an FBS program, Kennesaw State, while Vocque transferred to Central Arkansas and Davis to Duquesne.
Other notable losses include Marcus Jones Jr., UAPB’s fourth-leading tackler, and Mike Riley.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The leading returner at the position is Jaylen White, who played in 11 games and made 30 tackles, a big step forward from the three assisted tackles he made as a true freshman in 2023.
White and Kelly were the primary starters last season. White will likely be favored to start again in 2025, leaving the question of who will be his partner in the lineup.
One option may be Kaylon Bradley. The rising senior made 14 tackles, all in the first five games of the season. He came to UAPB last offseason as a promising junior college transfer and could, if healthy, become a leader in the linebacker room this fall.
He was listed on the depth chart as White’s backup at middle linebacker, so one of them would need to move outside if both were to start.
UAPB showed last year with Vocque and Goins it isn’t afraid to play freshmen, and the Golden Lions have some more freshmen to be excited about going forward.
Little Rock Southwest product Derrick Murdock signed in 2024 and made six tackles last year despite only appearing in two games as a true freshman. He was listed third on the depth chart at outside linebacker behind Kelly and Goins.
Murdock will be joined this fall by true freshman Arsenio “Ace” Bolds Jr. from New Orleans. He was the overall team captain of an Edna Karr team which went 15-0 and won a state championship last season. He made 80 tackles, 21 for loss, with three interceptions and was named Louisiana Unsung Player of the Year.
If the Golden Lions want more experience on the field, they have three incoming junior college transfers.
Southwest Mississippi Community College transfer Danarius Hilliard took part in UAPB spring practice after finishing 2024 as his team’s second leading tackler. He made 55 tackles, 4.5 for loss, intercepted two passes and forced a fumble.
Two more junior college transfers committed after the spring. Saddleback College (Calif.) transfer Antoine Hardie made 13 tackles as a freshman, while Monroe College (N.Y.) transfer Mohommed Kelleh made 17 tackles and recovered two fumbles.
UAPB has options and a little depth at linebacker entering fall camp. Keeping them healthy will be key this year.