Initially, the linebacking corps was going to be a two-part preview; but with only ten scholarship linebackers on the roster, doing this as a single preview makes sense.
And with Clark Lea likely shifting Vanderbilt to the 4-2-5 defense he ran at Notre Dame, the Commodores probably won’t play that many linebackers — at least, not at the linebacker spot. Some of the bigger guys in this unit could effectively play a defensive line spot, while smaller guys could flex back into the third safety position.
Still, this is a unit that could improve in spite of some key losses — Andre Mintze is off to the NFL, while Dimitri Moore transferred (and wound up at Missouri State.