VIDEO: Coaches in Cars Getting Coffee – Bret Story
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the final part in an eight-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2022 season. This feature breaks down the Eagle linebackers with aid from Bret Story.
One of the most veteran groups on Carson-Newman's football team, Carson-Newman's linebacking corps returns 39 career starts split between Alonzo Houston (17), Daniel Dixon-Brooks (12) and Caleb Goins (10). Houston and Goins are both preseason All-SAC selections.
"They've been here so long that they have an idea of what Coach Slade is thinking at certain times," Story said. "They (mike linebackers Houston and Brooks) are unquestionably the quarterback of the defense. They know the fits of what our whole defense is doing."
Dixon-Brooks was dinged up last season, but still made 27 tackles and picked off a pass against Tusculum. He was more effective in 2019 when he appeared in all 12 games with starts in 11 games. Dixon-Brooks was third on the team in tackles for the year with 65 stops.
Houston was Carson-Newman and the South Atlantic Conference's leading tackler for 2021. Houston made 98 stops on the year with 5.5 behind the line of scrimmage. Houston had six double-digit tackle efforts on the year against West Georgia, UVA Wise, Catawba, Lenoir-Rhyne, Newberry and Mars Hill. He had a career-high 15 stops against UVA Wise and a career-high 10 solo tackles against Catawba.
"Caleb can really line up the whole defense," Story said. "He is going to make sure everyone is in the right spot and alignment. He's a hard worker and just knows the playbook. He knows his flaws and how to work around them."
Goins transformed himself into an every game starter for C-N. Goins was third on the team in tackles and one of two defensive players to start every game for C-N. He had 62 stops on the year, including 7.0 tackles for loss. Goins also broke up four passes, recovered a fumble and blocked a kick. He recovered his fumble against West Georgia and blocked his kick against Newberry. The game against the Wolves was his best of the season. He produced a career-best 11 tackles.
Erskine transfer Ja'Laun Walton moves down from the defensive back position he played at his previous school.
"Walton is new," Story said. "He's athletic playing DB at Erskine. He'll do well and he brings a lot of intelligence to the position. If we need pass coverage, he's someone we can turn to."
Walton Played one spring season and the 2021 fall season at Erskine College in Due West, SC. Recorded the first interception in program history.
"I think Jake Cottle, DeAndre Williams, Fortune Woods, Storm Livesay and Zach Williams could make an impact," Story said. "They are still young, but I think they can do a lot of things for us and set a strong base for our future."
Cottle, Livesay and Williams have been in the program and all redshirted last season.
Williams is a UVA Wise transfer. He Accounted for 40 tackles and a sack in 11 games at UVA Wise in 2019. Followed that up with 54 tackles in 2021. Made a career-high 13 stops against Carson-Newman. Woods transfers in from Bowling Green.
Carson-Newman opens the season Sept. 1 at West Georgia. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins one hour prior to kickoff with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Sports 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
