The Football Roster Post Spring - The Outside Linebackers (FREE)

The Bears displayed a much improved pass rush in 2024, much the result of pressure generated by the OLB unit.   Sophomore Ryan McCulloch came into his own and is a rising star while Xavier Carlton was a stalwart with David Reese occasionally flashing.   The Cal defense tallied 34 sacks on the year, and finished 4^th in ACC play with over three sacks per conference game.  The bulk of that pass rush falls on the responsibility of this room

Xavier Carlton has moved on to try and make an NFL roster, David Reese will play his eighth year in college for Syracuse at age 26, while Cheik Fall has run out of eligibility and Myles Williams left seeking more playing time elsewhere.   That aggregates into a lot of turnover.

The cupboard is not bare as McCulloch returns after leading the Bears in QB hurries and he will be joined by Serigne Tounkara who flashed pass rush potential with a handful of sacks and hurries.  Added to the group are highly touted transfers TJ Bush and Chris Victor, former elite HS recruit Jayden Wayne and a JC and HS recruit.

Departures: 

Xavier Carlton

David Reese

Cheik Fall

Myles Williams

Returners:

Ryan McCulloch‍:  6’3, 245, Junior (19 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and 8 QB hurries in 10 games in 2024)

Serigne Tounkara‍:  6’2, 245, RS Sophomore (5 tackles, 1.5 Sacks and 2 QB hurries in 2024)

Curlee Thomas‍:  6’4, 260, RS Junior 

Newcomers via Transfer

TJ Bush‍:  6’3, 260, Junior (57 tackles, 17 TFLs and 7.5 sacks across two seasons at Liberty)

Jayden Wayne‍: 6’5, 255, RS Sophomore (19 tackles across two seasons at Miami and Washington)

Chris Victor‍:  6’4, 240, RS Senior (54 tackles, 12.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in 2024 for Chattanooga in 2024)

Newcomers via High School and Junior College

Odera Okaka‍:  6’4, 235, Junior (#1 JC Edge Recruit Nationally by 247 Composite rankings)

John Tofi Jr‍:  6’4, 210 (3 Star HS Recruit)

Projected Depth Chart entering Fall Camp

WOLB:

McCulloch

Tounkara

Victor

Tofi Jr

SOLB:

Bush

Wayne

Okaka

Thomas

Observations

This groups 2024 potential went unrealized as David Reese struggled with his health and confidence.  In his absence, Ryan McCulloch became this units most dynamic player, as his natural pass rush skills and high motor made him highly productive.   He will be looked at as the Alpha of this room in 2025.

Tj Bush was among the most sought after portal recruits.   At 260lbs, he has the size to hold the edge while showing off good explosion and agility in getting into the opposition’s backfield.  He was 2^nd team All Conference USA as a Sophomore, and has the skill set to shine in the ACC.

Those two will have good athleticism and size behind them on the depth chart.  Tounkara is quick, long and agile as a pure pass rusher and Victor is similar albeit with more experience and production.   Wayne is 6’5, 255, with solid athleticism and plus strength.  He played solidly this Spring and if he can find a consistent motor, he can be a contributor.  Okaka’s explosive but raw and after looking lost early in the Spring, had a few flashes late in the session.  

This unit is more athletic and with more proven production in the two deeps than at any time in the Wilcox era.   Carlton’s production won’t be easy to replace and McCulloch’s health will need to be watched after he missed three games in 2024.  However, snaps can be more broadly distributed given the strong depth, keeping players rested and ostensibly more healthy.   And there’s more raw pass rushing ability here than the Bears have seen in a long, long time.  

Others in this series:

The Defensive Line

The Tight Ends

The Offensive Line

The Wide Receivers

The Running Backs

The Quarterbacks (Free)