The things I like about football are hitting. I love contact, I don’t know why, like if I am running the ball and I have a wide-open touchdown, I run to the defender and truck them, and then I score. The thing I like about being a linebacker is tackling or getting a pick if someone runs a slant. Being a linebacker is important because they are the ones who mainly tackle the running back and quarterback..

Physicality: 

You need to be physical because there is a lot of running when you’re a linebacker. Even if you’re a safety, you have to run a lot because if the linebacker doesn’t tackle them, the safety has to get him/her. If you’re a linebacker, you are going to play zone, and in that zone, if they throw the ball your way, you’re going to have to either jump and catch the ball or smack it as long as the offense doesn’t catch the ball, you’re okay.

Speed/Agility: 

You have to be able to move your hips in a certain way because if you have to guard someone, you have to move very fast. If you are a fast linebacker, it shouldn’t be a problem for you because you can get to the ball fast and make the tackle.  Even if you don’t tackle them, you can slow them down so your teammates can tackle them. You can even push them out of balance if your teammates aren’t there.

Here are some exercises you can do to get faster and quicker:

-You can run this drill called snake. Snake is when you start at the 50-yard line and sprint as fast as you can to the other sideline, and then you go to the 45 and jog back to the sideline where you started, and keep repeating that process. 

-Another drill to get faster is to start in the endzone and run to the 50-yard line, and jog to the other endzone.

Training: 

You have to train to tackle because if you tackle the way you want to, you are going to get trucked, run over, or hurt. Training is all about getting better, and if you don’t want to train, you’re not going to get better, and if you don’t get better, you won’t be a starter and only go in if someone has to come out because of an injury.

Here are some drills you can do:

-A drill I like to do is where you get 2 people, and the other person has a ball and he points in the direction you backpedal to, and he/she might throw the ball so you can intercept it. -Another drill is backpedal 50 yards and then turn around and sprint the other 50 yards. 

Mental Toughness: 

A linebacker does the most tackling on defense because the line has to try and get through the offensive line, and the corners have to guard the wide receivers, so that means the linebacker has to tackle the running back/quarterback. DON’T BE SCARED to hit someone because you’re scared you’re going on the bench. If you’re scared, don’t be because the only thing u have to do is use your arms and shoulder pads. NEVER use your head; you can get really hurt. If you’re a linebacker 

If you follow these instructions, you will be prepared to dominate the gridiron. If you’re not a good teammate, then your teammates will start to dislike you, and if you and your teammates don’t work together, then you might lose your games. And when you lose your games, then your coach will get mad, and when your coach gets mad, you’re going to have to do a lot of running.  So listen up and toughen up!