By Jim Henry

jhenry@joplinglobe.com

Jared Brawner, the leading tackler on Missouri Southern’s defense in 2007, returns to anchor a veteran linebacker corps.

Brawner, 6-foot-1, 237-pound junior from Kirksville, Mo., registered 98 tackles (48 solo, 48 assists) last season. He also led the Lions with 14 tackles for loss for minus-52 yards, and his 3.5 quarterback sacks shared team honors with defensive lineman Elbert Johnson, who graduated.

Brawner was named second team all-MIAA. His 8.7 tackles per game tied for second in the league behind Washburn linebacker Zach Watkins, and Brawner’s 14 tackles for loss tied for seventh in the league.

Rudy Mascaro and Antwan Dyer are returning starters at the outside linebacker positions.

Dyer, a senior, was the Lions’ No. 4 tackler with 50 stops. He also had 7.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles to earn honorable mention all-league honors.

Mascaro, a junior, made 41 tackles, including six for losses.

“The strength of the group is their experience,” Lions linebacker coach Raleigh Jackson said. “They’ve played a lot of games. Brawner is a third-year starter, Rudy will be starting his third year, and Antwan played in every game last year.

“I’ve been impressed with their overall knowledge of the game. They were well-coached. Coach (Daryl) Daye, our defensive coordinator, coached the linebackers last year, so my job is relatively easy. We’re just working on a few nuances of the game. They have a chance to be pretty good players.”

Backups include a quartet of sophomores — Dusty Bratzler, Josh Woodard, Marcus Cook and Zach McFerren.

Jackson, a two-time all-state linebacker from Orangeburg, S.C., is in his first year on the Lions’ staff. He coached defensive ends last year at Goose Creek (S.C.) High School under former Baylor coach Chuck Reedy.

Jackson was a four-year letterman at the Citadel. In 2006, his senior year, he was a starter and helped the Citadel to its first winning record in the Southern Conference in 15 years.

“I look for guys who are downhill players, very aggressive,” Jackson said. “Guys who are heady and smart, who know what’s going on in the front and also what’s going on behind them. I want guys who are natural leaders.”