Everyone pointing at the QB room or the defensive line when they talk about our position of need is completely misssing what actually kept us from taking that next step last season. Go watch the tape from the three games we lost by a combined 11 points. EVERY single one of those games had a moment where our linebacker depth got exposed in space against a spread offense. We had guys out of position on crossing routes, missed gap fits on zone reads, and zero ability to generate pressure when we only rushed four. The Big Ten post-spring intel from CBS talked about breakout players across the league and I guarantee you the teams that figure out linebacker rotation in this conference are the ones who survive September. We cannot keep relying on safeties to clean up messes that should have been handled at the second level. Our coaching staff knows this. Hearing noise that we are prioritizing hybrid linebacker types in the 2027 year who can actually run with Big Ten tight ends and still fill against the run. The SEC metrics argument is irrelevant when you cannot stop Ohio State and Oregon from shredding you over the middle with athletic tight ends. Fix the linebacker room or watch another season slip away in the fourth quarter.