After losing the nation’s leading tackler in Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington football fans were expecting a bit of a drop off in inside linebacker play, but the difference between 2018 and 2019 was much steeper than most fans were expecting. Between the two inside linebackers who started the majority of games during the 2019 season, they recorded 112 total tackles. For reference, Burr-Kirven recorded 176 total tackles in 2018.
Both of those 2019 starters were seniors, and the most experienced players behind them were redshirt freshmen Jackson Sirmon, Edefuan Ulofoshio and MJ Tafisi.