INDIANAPOLIS – Defensive Coordinator Jeff Knowles will coach the second level of the Butler defense in 2022. The linebacker unit breaks down with two seniors, a junior, three sophomores and 11 freshmen.
 
"The linebacker group has worked hard this fall to improve takeaways, tackling, and playing with great effort," Knowles explained. They have attacked every challenge we have thrown at them."
 
Seniors
Mac Menard (6-1, 195)
Michael Wellman (6-2, 218)

Wellman played in all 11 games last season and started at linebacker for BU in seven of the final eight games of the year. He ranked sixth on the team with 38 tackles (23 solo). Wellman made 2.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and recorded a sack at Dayton. Menard also saw the playing field in all 11 games for the Bulldogs in 2021. He finished ninth on the team with 30 tackles and recovered a fumble at Marist. Menard was a tackling machine against Davidson with 11 stops against the Wildcats. Wellman's top individual performance included nine tackles against San Diego.
 
Junior
Mike Wymer (6-0, 215)

Wymer is the lone junior in the linebacker room this season for the Bulldogs. He played in nine games last fall and came up with 17 tackles. Wymer recovered a fumble in the season opener at Illinois State and posted a season-high five tackles in the contest at Morehead State.
 
Sophomores
Charlie Bless (6-1, 225)
Gabe Hicks (6-0, 235)
Isaac Kolosik (6-1, 220)

Hicks impacted the program during his freshman campaign by playing in all 11 games. He recorded 24 tackles, including three stops behind the line of scrimmage. He and Kolosik each broke onto the scene during the 2021 spring season. Kolosik earned the team's Defensive Top Dog Award (Most Valuable Defensive Player) that season, but was limited to just three games in the fall. Over those three contests, Kolosik made eight tackles. Bless will add depth to this group after seeing playing time in two games as a freshman.
 
Freshmen
*Andrew Chime (6-0, 200)
Deklan Dougherty (6-2, 210)
Tyson Garrett (6-0, 217)
Jeremiah Jackson (5-9, 185)
James McCabe (6-2, 205)
*Evan Niemi (6-3, 230)
*Danny Orgler (6-2, 220)
Carter Scearce (5-9, 220)
Sam Scullion (5-11, 190)
*Brayton Spetter (6-0, 200)
*Adam Sturtz (6-2, 210)
* - Redshirt Freshmen

Five redshirt-freshmen linebackers will mesh with six true newcomers this season at the Sellick Bowl. Sturtz highlights this group after appearing in 10 games during the '21 season. He made eight tackles, carving out a role on special teams. Chime, Niemi, Orgler, and Spetter will all hang onto freshman eligibility after seeing limited playing time last fall. The true freshmen hail from North Carolina, Florida, Illinois (2) and Indiana (2). Roncalli graduate Tyson Garrett helped the Royals win the 2020 State Championship. He was a two-time All-State selection that topped 100 tackles as a junior and senior. Jeremiah Jackson is also an Indiana native that played at nearby Brefeuf Jesuit Prep. He was part of a of a Braves team that finished State Runner-Up in 2021.