Since the arrival of head coach Jim Harbaugh in December of 2006, Stanford has improved its talent in virtually every area; linebacker is no exception.

The Cardinal are faster and stronger than they have been in years at the position, and more importantly, coach Harbaugh’s tremendous recruiting effort has allowed for quality depth to surface within the unit. This may not be the Pac-10’s best group of linebackers, but it is a technically sound unit that is full of potential.

Replacing productive three-year starter Pat Maynor (graduated) will not be easy, as he was a mainstay at linebacker over the course of his career (257 total tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 10 sacks). Fortunately, the Cardinal have a proven senior leader in the middle of the defense who will guide the rest of the Stanford LBs in 2009.

Fifth-year senior Clinton Snyder enters his final season in Palo Alto having started in 34 of the past 36 games. Snyder is the undisputed anchor of the unit, and one of the most productive linebackers in the conference. He is a punishing run-stopper, but will also act as one of the team’s best blitz options.

Snyder has already enjoyed a stellar career at Stanford, accounting for 237 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss (TFL), 13 sacks, and 10 forced fumbles (FF). In 2007, he put up tremendous numbers totaling 96 tackles, 14.5 TFL, eight sacks, and four FF.

Last season, Snyder’s production tailed off a bit with only 58 tackles, 6.5 TFL, three sacks, and three FF (still, not bad for an “off” year). He is highly motivated to regain his form from two years ago, and the 2009 season could be his best yet.

At 6-4 240 pounds, Snyder has prototypical size for an inside linebacker. He routinely finds the quickest path to the ball carrier, and can blow up an offensive play by himself because of his rare defensive instincts.

The San Diego (CA) native will move back to middle linebacker in 2009 after spending most of his career on the outside. He missed the early part of spring because of an ankle injury suffered late last season, but he recovered nicely and will enter fall camp as one of the top playmakers on the entire Cardinal team.

Next to Snyder on the weakside will be talented junior Chike Amajoyi. Amajoyi was recruited as a running back, but has made a very successful transition to the defensive side of the ball. Last season, he played in all 12 games (five starts) finishing with 51 tackles and two tackles for loss.

Like Snyder, Amajoyi’s production was down slightly in 2008 compared to his previous season. He made an exciting debut two years ago with 47 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble as a freshman reserve. After two seasons in a supporting role, he will now be counted on as a starting outside linebacker.

At 6-0 235 pounds, Amajoyi provides the Stanford defense with very good speed (4.5) and athleticism on the outside. His quickness allows him to cover space in a hurry, and he uses his fluid hips to swiftly close in on ball carriers.

The San Bernardino (CA) native will be a great asset for the pass rush as well as in coverage situations, and Co-defensive coordinators Andy Buh and Ron Lynn could use his versatile skill set in a number of other creative ways. Amajoyi enters fall camp atop the depth chart at weakside linebacker.

Sturdy senior Will Powers will man the strongside linebacker spot in 2009. Powers is an extremely intelligent player (First Team All-Pac-10 Academic Honors in 2008) who is always in the right position. The reliable veteran appeared in all 12 games last season, but made an impact mostly on special teams as he finished with only 10 tackles. For his career, he has made six starts and played in 35 total games, recording 28 tackles, two TFL, and one sack.

At 6-4 240 pound, Powers does not have a dynamic skill set, but he could be a consistent run-stopping presence who won’t make mental errors. The Foster City (CA) native could conceivably split time with others at the strongside spot in 2009, but he will start the year as the number one guy.

There are a number of exciting reserve linebackers available in 2009.

Clinton Snyder’s main backup will be junior Nick Macaluso. With Snyder firmly entrenched at the middle linebacker position it will be difficult for Macaluso to see extensive time this season, but he is more than capable of filling in when needed.

Over the last two seasons, he has made appearances in 15 games and started 12 of them. Last season, he started five games and made 20 tackles with four TFL before a hand injury forced him to miss the remainder of the season. At 6-3 241 pounds, Macaluso is a tenacious run-stopper and brings an overall toughness to the unit. The Middletown (NJ) product will play in a reserve role this season, but should supplant Snyder at inside LB in 2010.

The fiercest position battle in the linebacking corps this spring was between Will Powers and promising sophomore Alex Debniak. The battle may resume in the fall; in fact, Debniak could force his way into the lineup on both sides of the ball.

He may have had the best spring of any player on the team (excluding QB Andrew Luck). Debniak rushed for 91 yards on four carries as a tailback in the Cardinal and White game, while also making numerous defensive plays throughout the entire spring. He played sparingly in eight games as a freshman, making four tackles on the season.

At 6-2 231 pounds, Debniak is a powerful athlete with 4.4 speed, and could become a force at outside linebacker. The Hudsonville (MI) native will enter fall camp very much in the hunt for the strongside job, and he may play extensively even if he doesn’t win it from Powers.

Two other reserves that could make an impact this season are sophomore Max Bergen and true freshman Shayne Skov.

The 6-2 227 pound Bergen will be the main backup to Amajoyi on the weakside. While he has no experience to draw from, Bergen’s upside is exciting. He is one of the Cardinal’s most agile linebackers, and has looked sharp in the spring. The East Stroudsburg (PA) native will get his feet wet this season, and should be an impact defender for Stanford over the next few years.

One of the most heralded Harbaugh recruits from the 2009 class is future headliner Shayne Skov. Programs all over the country recruited the 6-3 237 pound Skov before he decided to suit up for the Cardinal. The Piedmont (CA) native played his high school football at Trinity-Pawling in New York, and became a prep star while on the east coast.

Rivals.com ranked him as the 3rd best inside LB in the country and gave him 4-stars, while Scout.com gave him 5-star recognition and ranked him 3rd in the country at MLB as well. He has just recently arrived on campus in Palo Alto, but has all the tools to play right away.

Other linebackers that will compete for time are: junior Owen Marecic (also starter at fullback), sophomore Johnathan Frink, and freshman Geoff Meinken.

My Take

As mentioned before, Harbaugh has done a great job of infusing the Cardinal defense with versatile talent and depth. I still think the defense is a year or two away from being elite, but this program is doing everything the right way.

The linebackers are chalk full of hard-nosed, physical workers that all weigh at least 230 pounds. At media day, Harbaugh mentioned the strides that had been made in the weight room over the off-season, and I look for strength and speed to define this linebacking corps in 2009.

Snyder has next level ability, and he should flourish in the middle, while Amajoyi will bring great quickness on the outside. I will be most interested to see if Powers can hold off the hard-charging Debniak at the strongside spot, as that job is still too close to call.

Finally, Stanford fans that don’t know the name Shayne Skov will be hearing it often over the next few years so get ready; he will be a star.

Look for youth and experience to come together at linebacker on the Farm this season.