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ELON, N.C. – Leading up to the start of the 2018 Elon University football season, we will take a brief look at each position. Today, we take a look at the linebackers coached by Bryant Haines.
 
This year's linebacking core features two seniors and three juniors after sporting just three upperclassmen heading into the 2017 season. The rest of the group is made up of one sophomore, two redshirt freshmen and six true freshmen.
 
Leading the way for the group if Warren Messer, who picked up a pair of Second Team All-America honors from STATS FCS and Phil Steele while earning First Team All-CAA Football after his 2017 junior campaign. The Garner, N.C., native started all 12 games and posted a team-best 114 tackles, including 11.0 for a loss and 5.5 sacks to go with a pair of interceptions, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles. A standout moment for Messer a season ago was the interception with 28 seconds remaining at Rhode Island to seal the 500th victory in program history. This summer, Messer has already picked up Preseason All-America honors from STATS FCS, Athlon Sports and HERO Sports. Messer leads the middle linebackers with Ryan Whitehead next on Elon's preseason depth chart. Whitehead redshirted the 2015 season, but played in six games in 2017 with a career-best four tackles against No. 19 Albany.
 
The other senior of the group – Matt Baker – appeared in 10 games a year ago and totaled 62 tackles, including 5.0 for a loss with 2.5 sacks. The Raleigh, N.C., native recorded four games with at least seven tackles against Toledo, Furman, No. 16 New Hampshire and No. 1 James Madison. Baker entered preseason camp leading the weak-side linebackers with Stephen Copeland backing him up.  
 
T.J. Speight leads the third linebacking group after playing in all 23 of Elon's games over the course of his first two seasons. A season ago he had 56 tackles, including 4.0 for a loss and 2.0 sacks while recording a career-best 10 stops and 0.5 sacks in the victory over William & Mary. Sophomore Tiras Williams checks in behind Speight after seeing time in 10 games as a first-year in 2017.
 
More returning reinforcements for the group include Quinn Dolan and Zach Stanley, both of which are redshirt freshmen in 2018. Newcomers include William Archer, Devonte Chandler, Zack Monson, Jamir Malone, Patrick Magarian and Darwin Frett.
 
Linebacker Personnel
William Archer | Fr. | 6-1 | 195 | La Grange, N.C.
Matt Baker | Sr. | 6-0 | 222 | Raleigh, N.C.
Devonte Chandler | Fr. | 6-0 | 225 | Chester Va.
Quinn Dolan | R-Fr. | 6-0 | 214 | Richland, N.J.
Darwin Frett | Fr. | 6-0 | 220 | Hope Mills, N.C.
Patrick Magarian | Fr. | 6-2 | 200 | Cincinnati, Ohio
Jamir Malone | Fr. | 6-0 | 214 | North Ridgeville, Ohio
Warren Messer | Sr. | 5-11 | 227 | Garner, N.C.
Zack Monson | Fr. | 6-3 | 215 | Alexandria, Va.
T.J. Speight | Jr. | 5-10 | 213 | Wilson, N.C.
Zach Stanley | R-Fr. | 6-1 | 213 | Leesburg, Va.
Tiras Williams | So. | 6-2 | 224 | Anderson, S.C.