Tar Heel linebackers play integral role on defense

Three of them walk onto the field. A leader, a jester and an underdog.

Together they form the North Carolina starting linebacker corps.

Easily recognizable because of his flowing blonde hair, senior Jeff Schoettmer is the leader. In 2014, the former walk-on finished second on the team in tackles and had two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns.

“The coaching staff always spoke so highly of Jeff, but it didn’t take me long to see why,” said linebackers coach John Papuchis. “You could see he was kind of the top dog in the room; the other players kind of fall in line behind him.”

As the middle linebacker in defensive coordinator Gene Chizik’s 4-3 scheme, Schoettmer is the literal and figurative heart of the defense. It’s up to him to organize his teammates before every snap and provide the leadership needed to run his side of the ball.

He’ll have help from the jester in the Tar Heels’ linebacking corps, senior Shakeel Rashad.

After only starting two games in 2014, Rashad plans to start every game this season. But the increase in playing time demands an increase in responsibility.

The coaching staff has challenged Rashad to provide more leadership now that he’s starting. Despite being one of the most gregarious and vocal players on the team, it took time for him to feel comfortable in that role.

“I was really hesitant early, I still am sometimes, as a leader,” Rashad said. “But now I’m just willing to accept it a little more. If I see something wrong, I’m more willing to call it out.”

With Schoettmer established as the defensive captain, Rashad is freed to lead by example instead.

“He doesn’t always have as much of a vocal role in terms of leadership, but that’s not necessarily his role in the room,” Papuchis said. “He’s a veteran that models the behavior I want the other guys to follow.”

Finally, there’s the underdog.

After spending most of his first two seasons as a sparely used reserve, junior linebacker Joe Jackson won the final starting outside linebacker position in a competition with sophomore Cayson Collins.

Collins had an impressive freshman season and both Papuchis and Schoettmer lauded his talent. But Jackson’s reliability impressed the coaching staff in training camp.

“Joe doesn’t make mental mistakes; he’s reliable every play,” Schoettmer said. “That’s something that we need — guys who won’t make that blatant error that will hurt our defense.”

With time ticking until the season opener, questions still wait unanswered about how the defense will perform relative to 2014’s lackluster unit. But whatever happens on Sept. 3 against South Carolina, one thing is sure.

These three — the leader, the jester and the underdog — will be in the middle of it.

@loganulrich

sports@dailytarheel.com