Texas A&M will be tasked with replacing its top two tacklers from 2018 -- Otaro Alaka and Tyrel Dodson -- who both happened to be linebackers.
It isn't the best position for the Aggies to reload at either, as the unit is young and dealt with key injuries last season. Nonetheless, it's imperative at least two players emerge as consistent starters at linebacker for A&M.
Dallas Kimball product Buddy Johnson seems to be the safest bet of all returning linebackers. He was 10th on the team in tackles in 2018 and had 6.0 for loss. Playing at 6-foot-2, 225 last season, Johnson could slide inside if he's bulked up after anchoring the Aggies' rover spot last year.