Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Bucknell Football Position Preview: Linebacker
8/7/2019 8:00:00 AM | Football
As an underclassman, Sam Chitty looked up to Mark Pyles and Ben Richard, two three-time All-Patriot League performers who combined for nearly 500 tackles during their time at Bucknell from 2014 to 2017.
Pyles and Richard were the latest in a long line of standout Bison linebackers. Both served as captains, with Pyles becoming only the 10th Bison to do so twice as a senior. Chitty, now a senior captain himself, said that he hopes to add to Bucknell's storied legacy at the linebacker position.
"The big thing is our tradition," Chitty said. "Mark and Ben were, obviously, great linebackers, and it goes back much further than them with guys like Lee Marvel and Evan Byers. As linebackers, we feel like we're expected to be All-Patriot League players. We're expected to be leaders. In the linebacker room, we strive to not only meet but exceed those expectations."
Junior Simeon Page may be transitioning from the "X" hybrid position to "Will" linebacker, but Cecchini expects him to remain the X factor on the Bison defense. A two-time All-Patriot League honoree, Page has terrorized opposing offenses to the tune of 84 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss and 13.5 sacks; he enters 2019 needing just three sacks to crack Bucknell's career top 10 despite missing six games to injury over the past two seasons.
"Page is healthy, and he's getting better at the linebacker position," Cecchini said. "Obviously, he did a great job at that hybrid 'X' position. He blitzed a lot, and we're still going to utilize him in those types of roles. He's extremely hard to block. He's a difference maker, and we're looking for big things from him."
At middle linebacker, big things are also expected from junior Rick Mottram. After starting the 2018 campaign on special teams, he took on an expanded role at linebacker in the final five games with Page lost to injury. He ultimately took second among Bison with 10 tackles for a loss, 9.5 of which came in the final four contests; he had a breakout game in the season finale against Fordham, posting team season-high totals in tackles (14), tackles for a loss (3.5) and sacks (2).
"Mottram is just an insanely intelligent linebacker," Cecchini said. "He picked up our system very quickly. He's always in the right place. He's a physical player who will excel at middle linebacker."
Chitty has made a seamless transition from "Sam" to "Star" linebacker. Last season, his first as a starter, he led the Bison in tackles for a loss (13.5), tied for second in sacks (3.5) and tied for third in tackles (74). A versatile player capable of taking snaps at both inside and outside linebacker, he's poised to make his senior campaign his best in the Orange and Blue.
"Chitty has done a great at 'Star' linebacker." Cecchini said. "With the rise of spread offenses, that 'Star' linebacker has to be a bit of a hybrid player. While Chitty is more on the linebacker side of that scale, he makes plays, and we can also move him around on the field as needed."
Cecchini also praised Chitty for his leadership, noting that he is among the team's hardest workers on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom.  Â
"He plays with passion," Cecchini said. "He's just so intense. He's become an emotional leader not just for our defense but for our football team."
Chitty said that he learned a lot from Pyles and Richard about leadership. He hopes to inspire the younger players on the team to strive to be the best they can be on the field and in the classroom.
"It's a huge honor to be captain like Mark and Ben," Chitty said. "Those guys were like my big brothers. They took me under their wing and gave me the confidence to be a better player. I want to be able to do the same for the younger guys on the team."
Senior Jon Fox will be a solid backup at the true linebacker positions while junior Gerrit Van Itallie, a safety, could see time at the "Star" hybrid position. In addition, junior Ryan Brida, who Chitty said is the "hardest worker on the team," is expected to make an impact at linebacker and on special teams.Â
"We haven't had a lot of depth in the past," Chitty said. "Now, we have it, and it's going to be huge."
NOTES: The Bison have 10 linebackers on the roster: two seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen ... Defensive coordinator Ryan Manalac will mentor the linebackers, with assistance from defensive assistant Joe Lyberger ... Sam Chitty is serving as team captain with fifth-year punter Alex Pechin ... Chitty is one of 10 players who enter the season with at least 10 career starts; he started all 11 of Bucknell's 2018 contests and the 2016 opener as a freshman ... Chitty and Jon Fox are two of six seniors who are three-time letterwinners ... Chitty has been vocal on the sidelines throughout the early days of camp ... Fox transitioned to linebacker from safety a year ago but missed the majority of the season to injury; now healthy, he is expected to be the first linebacker off the bench and also play a key role on special teams ... Simeon Page was recognized on the 2019 Preseason All-Patriot League Team; he was named to the 2018 All-Patriot League Team as a defensive lineman and the 2017 All-Patriot League Second Team as a linebacker ... Page is getting more comfortable with his assignments at "Will" linebacker; Bison fans can still expect to see him in blitz packages ... Page is the lone Utah native on the roster ... A year ago, Mottram was selected to the Google Cloud Academic All-District 2 Football Team, administered by CoSIDA ... Mottram, a Mechanical Engineering major, will carry a perfect 4.0 GPA into his junior year ... The Bison are looking to replace Matt Robinson, who started all 11 games at "Mike" linebacker a year ago; the former special teams standout led the class of 2018 with 41 career games played ... Ryan Brida was the team's 2018 Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year ... Chitty said that he "looks up to" Brida, noting that "he's always working his butt off in the weight room. They wanted him to play safety when he came in, and now he's a 225-pound linebacker ready to play. It's inspiring." ... Sophomore Luke Hamper is transitioning to linebacker from defensive end and is proving a solid contributor ... Sophomore Max Bunzel changed numbers ahead of the 2019 campaign, shifting to No. 32 from No. 49 ... Bunzel, fellow sophomore Cole McCabe and freshmen Ben Allen and Cooper Kim provide solid depth at linebacker ... Chitty said that Bunzel and McCabe have been "working their butts off" ... Allen set an Anthony Wayne High School record with 182 tackles ... Kim, a New Jersey native, attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia; as a Hawk, he was a teammate of Bison sophomore wide receiver Brandon Sanders ... Chitty praised newcomers Allen and Kim, saying that "they're going to be tremendous players here and will continue the legacy."Â
Past Preview Stories
Aug. 2 - Seven Bison to Watch
Aug. 5 - Running Backs
Pyles and Richard were the latest in a long line of standout Bison linebackers. Both served as captains, with Pyles becoming only the 10th Bison to do so twice as a senior. Chitty, now a senior captain himself, said that he hopes to add to Bucknell's storied legacy at the linebacker position.
"The big thing is our tradition," Chitty said. "Mark and Ben were, obviously, great linebackers, and it goes back much further than them with guys like Lee Marvel and Evan Byers. As linebackers, we feel like we're expected to be All-Patriot League players. We're expected to be leaders. In the linebacker room, we strive to not only meet but exceed those expectations."
The expectation of excellence won't change for the Bison linebackers. But their roles will. While Bucknell's defense won't have as radically of a different look as its offense, head coach Dave Cecchini made significant philosophical changes at linebacker. Gone is the "X," a hybrid linebacker/defensive lineman often tasked with blitzing the quarterback. In its place is the "Star," a hybrid linebacker/safety that is especially effective in defending against spread offenses."It's the greatest sport in the world."
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) August 7, 2019
Sam Chitty is poised to make his senior year his best in the 🔶 and 🔷. #ACT | #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/jr7UCGsBMz
Junior Simeon Page may be transitioning from the "X" hybrid position to "Will" linebacker, but Cecchini expects him to remain the X factor on the Bison defense. A two-time All-Patriot League honoree, Page has terrorized opposing offenses to the tune of 84 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss and 13.5 sacks; he enters 2019 needing just three sacks to crack Bucknell's career top 10 despite missing six games to injury over the past two seasons.
"Page is healthy, and he's getting better at the linebacker position," Cecchini said. "Obviously, he did a great job at that hybrid 'X' position. He blitzed a lot, and we're still going to utilize him in those types of roles. He's extremely hard to block. He's a difference maker, and we're looking for big things from him."
At middle linebacker, big things are also expected from junior Rick Mottram. After starting the 2018 campaign on special teams, he took on an expanded role at linebacker in the final five games with Page lost to injury. He ultimately took second among Bison with 10 tackles for a loss, 9.5 of which came in the final four contests; he had a breakout game in the season finale against Fordham, posting team season-high totals in tackles (14), tackles for a loss (3.5) and sacks (2).
"Mottram is just an insanely intelligent linebacker," Cecchini said. "He picked up our system very quickly. He's always in the right place. He's a physical player who will excel at middle linebacker."
Chitty has made a seamless transition from "Sam" to "Star" linebacker. Last season, his first as a starter, he led the Bison in tackles for a loss (13.5), tied for second in sacks (3.5) and tied for third in tackles (74). A versatile player capable of taking snaps at both inside and outside linebacker, he's poised to make his senior campaign his best in the Orange and Blue.
"Chitty has done a great at 'Star' linebacker." Cecchini said. "With the rise of spread offenses, that 'Star' linebacker has to be a bit of a hybrid player. While Chitty is more on the linebacker side of that scale, he makes plays, and we can also move him around on the field as needed."
Cecchini also praised Chitty for his leadership, noting that he is among the team's hardest workers on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom.  Â
"He plays with passion," Cecchini said. "He's just so intense. He's become an emotional leader not just for our defense but for our football team."
Chitty said that he learned a lot from Pyles and Richard about leadership. He hopes to inspire the younger players on the team to strive to be the best they can be on the field and in the classroom.
"It's a huge honor to be captain like Mark and Ben," Chitty said. "Those guys were like my big brothers. They took me under their wing and gave me the confidence to be a better player. I want to be able to do the same for the younger guys on the team."
Senior Jon Fox will be a solid backup at the true linebacker positions while junior Gerrit Van Itallie, a safety, could see time at the "Star" hybrid position. In addition, junior Ryan Brida, who Chitty said is the "hardest worker on the team," is expected to make an impact at linebacker and on special teams.Â
"We haven't had a lot of depth in the past," Chitty said. "Now, we have it, and it's going to be huge."
NOTES: The Bison have 10 linebackers on the roster: two seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen ... Defensive coordinator Ryan Manalac will mentor the linebackers, with assistance from defensive assistant Joe Lyberger ... Sam Chitty is serving as team captain with fifth-year punter Alex Pechin ... Chitty is one of 10 players who enter the season with at least 10 career starts; he started all 11 of Bucknell's 2018 contests and the 2016 opener as a freshman ... Chitty and Jon Fox are two of six seniors who are three-time letterwinners ... Chitty has been vocal on the sidelines throughout the early days of camp ... Fox transitioned to linebacker from safety a year ago but missed the majority of the season to injury; now healthy, he is expected to be the first linebacker off the bench and also play a key role on special teams ... Simeon Page was recognized on the 2019 Preseason All-Patriot League Team; he was named to the 2018 All-Patriot League Team as a defensive lineman and the 2017 All-Patriot League Second Team as a linebacker ... Page is getting more comfortable with his assignments at "Will" linebacker; Bison fans can still expect to see him in blitz packages ... Page is the lone Utah native on the roster ... A year ago, Mottram was selected to the Google Cloud Academic All-District 2 Football Team, administered by CoSIDA ... Mottram, a Mechanical Engineering major, will carry a perfect 4.0 GPA into his junior year ... The Bison are looking to replace Matt Robinson, who started all 11 games at "Mike" linebacker a year ago; the former special teams standout led the class of 2018 with 41 career games played ... Ryan Brida was the team's 2018 Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year ... Chitty said that he "looks up to" Brida, noting that "he's always working his butt off in the weight room. They wanted him to play safety when he came in, and now he's a 225-pound linebacker ready to play. It's inspiring." ... Sophomore Luke Hamper is transitioning to linebacker from defensive end and is proving a solid contributor ... Sophomore Max Bunzel changed numbers ahead of the 2019 campaign, shifting to No. 32 from No. 49 ... Bunzel, fellow sophomore Cole McCabe and freshmen Ben Allen and Cooper Kim provide solid depth at linebacker ... Chitty said that Bunzel and McCabe have been "working their butts off" ... Allen set an Anthony Wayne High School record with 182 tackles ... Kim, a New Jersey native, attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia; as a Hawk, he was a teammate of Bison sophomore wide receiver Brandon Sanders ... Chitty praised newcomers Allen and Kim, saying that "they're going to be tremendous players here and will continue the legacy."Â
Past Preview Stories
Aug. 2 - Seven Bison to Watch
Aug. 5 - Running Backs
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