Linebackers Za Darius Smith, Rashan Gary and Preston Smith
Packers.com is taking a look at the Packers roster, position by position, leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft. The series continues with the linebackers.
GREEN BAY – The Packers have youth and depth on their side at both linebacker positions after losing just a single player, veteran Christian Kirksey, this offseason.
Za Darius Smith and Preston Smith, and ascending edge rusher Rashan Gary, are all back after combining for 261 tackles, 48 sacks, six forced fumbles and 108 quarterback hits the past two seasons.
Infamously snubbed in 2019, Za Darius Smith left no doubts last season when he made All-Pro for the first time, garnering second-team recognition after posting 12½ sacks with four forced fumbles.
Virginia Tech defensive back Caleb Farley
Packers.com consulted more than a dozen mock drafts from reputable national outlets and compiled a list of players most frequently mocked as draft selections in the bottom third of the first round (picks 20-32).
Between now and draft day, when the Packers are slated to select at No. 29 overall, those players will be profiled with thumbnail sketches in a new series entitled Draft Digest.
Today s player is …
Height/Weight: 6-1, 207
Key stats: Started 23 of his 24 career games at Virginia Tech, recording 56 tackles (43 solo), 19 passes defensed and six interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). His four INTs tied for second most in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2019.
2021/04/24 03:03 FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2020, file photo, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scout. FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2020, file photo, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has made at least one trade on the opening night of the draft each of the past three years. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes that trend could continue next week. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File) FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020 file photo, Georgia defensive back Eric Stokes (27) returns an interception for a touchdown against Arkansas d.
Robert Kania is the new Wheeler football coach. Provided by Robert Kania
Robert Kania has coached a lot of football over the years, serving as an assistant at Penn, South Central, Portage, Wheeler and Chesterton.
After spending the last eight seasons with the Trojans and coach Mark Peterson, Kania confirmed Monday that he s finally leading his own program. The 1991 Penn grad has returned to Wheeler and has been hired as the Bearcats new football coach. I started my career at Penn (in 1996) and won a (Class 5A) state title. I should ve retired then, Kania said, laughing. I ve kind of worked my way around, but I ve enjoyed every second if it.
Draft Digest: Levi Onwuzurike, DL, Washington packers.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from packers.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.