2017 Frontier Conference Football Preview: Linebackers

There have been a lot of positions in the Frontier Conference that have produced some great players over the years. In recent times, the linebacker position has really been one of the strength around the league.

And while several star linebackers graduated a year ago, the position will once again be stout throughout the Frontier in 2017.

The Montana State University-Northern Lights, and defensive coordinator Jake Eldridge, certainly see the linebacker position as one of strength this season. The Lights return a bevy of players at the LB position from the 2016 depth chart, including senior Garet Fowler (5-10, 205). A three-year starter, Fowler has played like an All-Conference performer the last couple of seasons, including in 2016 when he racked up 94 tackles to go with two sacks and an interception. Fowler has been a standout for the Lights in the middle of their defense, and he'll be a big time leader this season.

Northern also returns the likes of Alec Wagner and others who have experience at LB, while young players like Jake Norby of Chinook stepped up in the spring, giving MSU-N some much-needed defensive depth heading into a new season.

As for the rest of the Frontier, two schools that have been known for linebacking over the years return a pair of great ones this fall.

Over the last three seasons, no one has had a more talented and more productive linebacker crew than UM-Western. And while star after star has graduated during that span, head coach Ryan Nourse still has an excellent one to lead the way this fall in Jason Ferris. Playing alongside All-American LB T.J. Benson last year, Ferris (6-0, 195) still tallied 85 stops, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions, and he should have an even bigger impact on the UM-W defense this season.

Of course, Carroll College has always been known as a linebacker-rich program, not just recently, but for decades now. And the Fighting Saints have another talent in senior David Anderson (6-0, 220). Anderson was a force a season ago, totaling 75 stops and 8.5 tackles for loss on his way to All-Conference honors.

It's not just Western and Carroll who have had great LB's during successful runs. A year ago, no one was more stacked than Eastern Oregon at the LB position, including the league's leading tackler in Tucker Stanley. However, EOU suffered heavy losses to graduation, but standout Michael Arenas (5-11, 207), who led the Mounties with 126 tackles, returns for his senior season, and he should be one of the best in the league.

Two teams that do return some veteran depth and talent at the LB position, however, are Southern Oregon and Rocky Mountain College. The Raiders bring back a pair of All-Conference performers in Devon Gage (6-2, 225), who earned First-Team honors last season with a whopping 100 tackles, 12.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks, as well as Isiah Carter (6-0, 210), who totaled 80 tackles a year ago.

RMC also returns a pair of standouts, led by Chase Bertelsen (6-2, 235). As a sophomore, Bertelsen was outstanding, tallying 90 tackles, 8 TFLs and three sacks. Bertelsen, along with Billy Williams (6-0, 210), who had 51 tackles a season ago, give RMC a strong middle in its defense.

Montana Tech has also been prolific at the LB position the last few seasons, but graduation hit Chuck Morrell's squad hard this past spring. The Orediggers need to replace star Drew Scheelman, as well as Zach Hulse. Still, the cupboard isn't bare, as Brock Polley should be one to watch this season, as should junior Forrest Rivers (5-11, 225) at the College of Idaho.

Editor's Note: This is the fifth installment in the Havre Daily News' annual preview of the upcoming Frontier Conference football season. For a look at the top defensive backs in the conference, see Friday's HDN.