Linebackers preview; Colin Bohanek’s return is inspirational for LBs room

CARBONDALE, Ill. — When Colin Bohanek suffered a torn bicep in Game 2 of the 2024 season, linebackers coach Mac McLeran wasn’t sure if the senior linebacker would return for another year. After the season, McLeran said he had no doubt Bohanek would fight his way back from the injury.

“He’s a dude that feels like there is a lot left in the tank,” McLeran said.  “He sees this as unfinished business. There's some fire there to go out and dominate a game.”

Prior to the injury, Bohanek had started 36-straight games and was approaching 300 career tackles. He was recently named as an FCS Preseason All-American.

“He’s the guy that not only rallies the troops, but is the calm, consistent, leadership force that we need on this side of the ball,” McLeran said. “He's irreplaceable from the standpoint of the leadership that he brings. Those young guys seeing an older guy, who's a very good player, fight through adversity. It’s just how he's wired, it's his makeup, and it's awesome to be around, because it's contagious for me.”

Linebacker profiles, with comments from Coach McLeran

#16 Colin Bohanek, 6-0, 227, Senior

Had a dozen tackles in the opener at BYU last season, then had his streak of 36-straight college starts ended when he was injured in Game 2 at Austin Peay.

“Bohanek’s going to do everything he can from a mental standpoint, from a physical standpoint, carry it to the grass, from the meeting room to walkthroughs. He’s just a guy that goes about it in a workmanlike fashion, after battling through injuries, being a dude that shows up every day, the exact same way.”

#6 Chris Presto, 6-2, 230, Junior

Started 10 games in 2024 and finished fifth on the team with 66 tackles and second in TFL with 8.5.

“He’s always asked, what does the team need from me? How can my role help us win, help us achieve the things we want collectively? That’s caused him to transition from 190 pounds when he first got here to a very dynamic guy. He could already do a lot of things athletically and using his length, and now he’s adding weapons to that catalog. Presto’s a perfect example of, when you invest, you see the gains on the other side.”

#33 Shug Walker, 6-2, 225, Senior

Started 11 games in 2024 and had 76 tackles, including double-digit tackles in four-straight games to end the season.

“He's a dynamic player that can play to the boundary, can play to the field, can rush off the edge. Tough, physical, blue-collar kid that brings a natural sort of friction to the room, which is a very good thing. There's a standard of being a teammate with him, an expectation that he has of his teammates and of himself.”

#46 Andrew Behm, 6-2, 230, Senior

After recording 102 tackles in 27 games in three seasons at Akron, was limited to three games at SIU last season due to injury.

“I don't have any doubts in my mind that that Beemer is going to be a very special player for us. He's been a complete difference-maker since January, one of the pieces from a work standpoint, from a mental capacity standpoint, from a question standpoint, from an accountability standpoint of himself and his teammates, and a production standpoint, he had probably the best spring of anybody.”

#45 Ben Fiegel, 6-3, 230, Sophomore

Rare true freshman to play at linebacker, he played in nine games in 2024, mainly on special teams.

“Coming in as a true freshman, it's a little fast when you're learning a lot of stuff in the middle, but he’s really invested the time and has great guys to learn from and grow with. He’s gotten to a spot where you've force-fed him a lot of that information, and he's started to digest that stuff, and now you start to see a guy who's playing with a lot of confidence. He’s going to be a big piece for us.”

#38 Stephen Green, 5-11, 200, Junior

Highly productive on special teams with 13 tackles in 13 games the last two seasons.

“He really made his name two years ago on special teams and I think was able to display some of that athleticism and that ability to finish violently on the football. Steve brings is a lot of versatility, is able to play the boundaries, able to play the field, runs really well, can cover number two in the slot. He's going to give us a lot of depth at a lot of different spots, as well as special teams.”