Williams working to get Auburn back to 'Linebacker U'

AUBURN | Travis Williams is working to reload Auburn’s linebacker roster, and not with just any linebackers.

Williams is looking for linebackers who can return Auburn’s reputation at the position to what it once was.

“I want people to start talking about Auburn’s linebackers again,” Williams said.

That’s easier said than done, but the Tigers’ second-year linebackers coach is on the right path, at least on paper. To get people talking about top linebackers in college, you first need to sign top linebackers out of high school.

Williams has done that.

Williams signed one of the country’s top groups in 2017. It included the state’s No. 1 outside linebacker in T.D. Moultry, the state’s top inside linebacker in K.J. Britt and one of Georgia’s top outside linebackers in Chandler Wooten. The three freshmen have backed up their rankings so far with their play on the field, and all are expected to contribute this fall.

“They are a special group,” Williams said. “They love football. They love Auburn.”

Williams plans to sign three more in the 2018 class, and is looking for a similar group as Moultry, Britt and Wooten.

“We want to get 3-4 this year and 3-4 again next year (2019 class),” Williams said. “We have to continue to recruit linebackers because I want to play linebackers.”