Chuck Bullough will be entering his fourth season with UCLA, and his first as the defensive coordinator. Bullough has been the linebackers coach for the last three seasons, and he will continue to coach the unit in addition to serving as DC.

This season, Bullough will have all-conference talent to work with throughout the defense, but his linebacking corps seems especially lethal. The group features some of the most physical athletes in the Pac-10, including an All-American candidate looking to finish off his tremendous career in style.

Senior Reggie Carter enters his final season in Westwood as a team captain and one of the best defensive players in the country. Last season, he led the Bruins with 83 tackles on his way to garnering second team All-Pac-10 honors.

Reggie Carter in pursuit

The 6-1 240 pound Carter also tallied 4.5 tackles for loss (5th on team) and tied for 4th in the conference with three forced fumbles. Against BYU, Carter made a career-high 20-tackles, which gave him the most stops in a game by a Bruin since 1989.

The Los Angeles (CA) native is the heart of the defense, and teammates and coaches have praised him for his leadership qualities. Carter spent part of his career at outside linebacker, but will now return to the middle where he is better suited. While he lacks elite speed (4.6), Carter is relentless in his pursuit of ball carriers. He possesses rare instincts and a tremendous football IQ as well.

Carter has consistently improved every season since arriving at UCLA, going from 48 tackles as a freshman All-American, to 62 tackles as a sophomore, and finishing with 83 tackles as a junior last season. He is a likely candidate for the Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year) as well as various other honors, and will be one of the key components for Rick Neuheisel’s Bruins in 2009.

Joining Carter as a starter will be fellow senior Kyle Bosworth. Bosworth will occupy the weakside at linebacker once again, after an injury forced him to miss most of the 2008 season. Bosworth sprained his knee against BYU last season after playing in just two games, and was granted a substitute year of eligibility as a result.

At 6-1 234 pounds, Bosworth is an extremely physical presence at weakside linebacker, and like Carter he plays with steadfast aggression. In 2007, Bosworth finished 5th on the team with 74 tackles and four tackles for loss.

He plays much faster than his forty-time suggests (4.70), and is rarely caught out of position. The Plano (TX) native will look to wreak havoc on opposing offenses alongside his brother Korey (defensive end). Bosworth enters fall camp in good health, and has a firm grasp on a starting role in 2009.

The strongside spot belongs to exciting redshirt sophomore Akeem Ayers. Ayers burst onto the scene last season as a redshirt freshman, recording 40 tackles, four sacks, and five tackles for loss. He earned honorable mention All-Pac-10, while also being named to multiple all-freshman teams.

Akeem Ayers takes down Fresno State's Tom Brandstater

At 6-4 252 pounds, Ayers possesses the size of a defensive end, but is athletic enough to play outside linebacker. He will be a headliner for years to come in Westwood, with a versatile skill set that could allow him to move around on the defense.

The Los Angeles (CA) native was a phenomenal high school player at Verbum Dei High School, playing on offense, defense, and even returning kicks. Rivals and Scout.com gave him 4-star recognition and he was named a PrepStar All-American. Ayers has the strongside spot locked up, and looks primed for an all-conference season in 2009.

Reserve sophomores Steve Sloan and Sean Westgate could also see playing time in 2009 after impressive freshmen campaigns.

The 6-4 231 pound Sloan was able to take advantage of playing time after Boswroth went down, starting nine of 12 games and finishing with 29 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Sloan played inside last season, and will therefore be the main backup for Carter.

The Campbell (CA) native played linebacker at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, making 143 tackles during his senior year. Rivals and Scout.com rated him as a 4-star prospect and he will be the future at middle linebacker for the Bruins once Carter is gone. He enters fall camp as one of the top reserves for UCLA.

The 5-11 205 pound Westgate wasted no time making an impact at UCLA, picking up a blocked punt and returning it for a TD in the season opener against Tennessee. He went on to appear in all 12 games as a true freshman, making 18 tackles on the season. Westgate does not have the size of the other linebackers, but he is a fierce competitor that plays with a high motor. The Oak Park (CA) native enters fall as the main backup to Bosworth on the weakside.

Other linebackers that could see time in 2009 are: freshmen Isaiah Bowens, Donovan Carter, Todd Golper, Patrick Larimore, and junior Mike Schmitt.

My Take

UCLA will field three all-conference caliber linebackers this season as part of an exciting Bruins defense. The sky is the limit for this unit as long as they can stay healthy, but if the offense struggles, fatigue may become an issue. There are talented underclassmen after the big three, but proven depth is the biggest concern.

How many linebackers return to the Pac-10 this season that are better than Reggie Carter? I can’t think of many (Oregon State’s Keaton Kristick is close). Carter will join DT Brian Price and CB Alterraun Verner in forming a three-headed monster at all defensive levels for UCLA.

I look for Carter to finish his career on a high note, and a spot on an All-American team is a real possibility. The return of Bosworth is massive, giving the Bruins another tackling machine to go along with Carter. I also love the explosiveness of Ayers, who seems destined for a breakout sophomore season.

Overall, I expect UCLA’s linebackers to be among the most productive in the conference throughout 2009.