ODUSports.com will do a position by position preview this week of the football Monarchs. Today we preview the linebackers and secondary.
Linebackers
| No. | Name | Class | Ht. | Wt. |
| 37 | Marvin Branch | So-r. | 6-2 | 216 |
| 31 | Tyler Darr | Fr. | 6-2 | 225 |
| 13 | Terez Dickerson | Fr-r. | 6-4 | 195 |
| 34 | Lawrence Garner | Fr. | 6-2 | 218 |
| 43 | Zach Lackman | Fr. | 6-2 | 219 |
| 36 | Brent Priester | Fr. | 6-2 | 218 |
| 47 | TJ Ricks | Sr-r. | 6-0 | 238 |
| 41 | Demetrius Stitmon | Fr. | 6-0 | 210 |
| 38 | Richard Thomas | Sr. | 6-0 | 229 |
| 42 | Derek Wilder | Fr-r. | 6-1 | 243 |
| 45 | Shadow Williams | Sr. | 6-0 | 216 |
| 35 | Anthony Wilson | Sr-r. | 6-1 | 220 |
| 40 | Isaiah Worthy | So-r. | 6-1 | 220 |
| 39 | Jordan Young | Fr. | 6-3 | 220 |
The Monarchs return the Conference USA leader in tackles in TJ Ricks and also return 2015 part-time starter in Shadow Williams. ODU must replace last year’s fourth leading tackler in Martez Simpson, who played his best football at the end of the year.
A former walk-on who was a semi-finalist for the Brandon Burlsworth Trophy given to the nation’s best walk-on, Ricks finished 11th in the FBS with 10.2 tackles per game. He recorded six double-digit tackle games and added seven pass breakups and an interception. He set the single-season ODU record for tackles and his 18 stops against Charlotte broke ODU’s single-game record.
Williams was a part-time starter and special teams standout, making 44 stops including forcing a fumble on a kickoff at Marshall.
The third starting spot will be up for grabs between a host of players including Anthony Wilson, Richard Thomas and Isaiah Worthy. Worthy redshirted last season after playing as a true freshman, while Wilson notched 22 tackles and Thomas played mostly on special teams.
Also in the mix for playing time and special teams reps will be Marvin Branch, who notched 30 tackles last season.
Derek Wilder, the son of head coach Bobby Wilder, redshirted last season and will compete for playing time at middle linebacker, while the Monarchs added Lawrence Garner, Zach Lackman, Brent Priester and Jordan Young into the mix.
Secondary
| No. | Name | Class | Ht. | Wt. |
| 11 | Brandon Addison | Jr-r. | 5-10 | 175 |
| 15 | Prince Ajegwu | Fr. | 6-3 | 201 |
| 17 | Andre Bernhard | So-r. | 6-2 | 201 |
| 7 | Elijah Blue | Fr. | 6-0 | 186 |
| 3 | C.J. Bradshaw | Sr-r. | 5-10 | 189 |
| 5 | Jamez Brickhouse | Fr-r. | 5-10 | 178 |
| 12 | Christian Byrum | So-r. | 6-1 | 192 |
| 9 | Jelani Carter | Fr. | 6-1 | 196 |
| 10 | Sean Carter | So-r. | 6-1 | 196 |
| 2 | Justice Davila | Jr. | 6-0 | 187 |
| 8 | Akim Bundu-Fitz | Fr-r. | 6-1 | 183 |
| 18 | Jordan Glover | So-r. | 5-11 | 160 |
| 28 | Parrish Gordon | Fr. | 6-0 | 201 |
| 29 | Joe Joe Headen | Fr. | 5-10 | 172 |
| 1 | Lawrence Holley | So-r. | 6-2 | 206 |
| 16 | Jamshyer McUmber | So-r. | 6-0 | 176 |
| 6 | Kane Miskel | Fr-r. | 6-2 | 183 |
| 21 | Justin Noye | So-r. | 6-1 | 210 |
| 20 | Rob Thompson | Jr-r. | 6-1 | 190 |
| 4 | Denzel Williams | Fr-r. | 6-2 | 206 |
| 22 | Jermain Williamson | Fr-r. | 5-9 | 170 |
| 27 | Aaron Young | Sr. | 5-11 | 188 |
Heading into last season there was some concern at the lack of experience at the cornerback position. With the emergence of Brandon Addison and Aaron Young, that concern was short-lived as they are now experienced veterans after each started all 12 games last season.
Young finished fifth on the team in tackles with 59 and finished second on the team in pass breakups.
Addison, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship over the summer, added 38 tackles and led the team with 11 pass breakups.
With Young and Addison earning starting roles, that helped the Monarchs ease Lawrence Holley into playing time, as he missed the first 10 games with injuries. He played the last two, mostly on special teams and looks to assume a larger role this season.
The Monarchs were able to redshirt Jamez Brickhouse, and will have even more depth with the addition of true freshmen Elijah Blue, Jelani Carter and Joe Joe Headen.
Old Dominion lost its second leading tackler and three-year starting safety Fellonte Misher to graduation, but appears to be set with a host of players looking to fill his role.
At one spot, junior Justice Davila returns after starting 11 games last season and finishing third on the team with 89 tackles.
The competition for the second starting spot should be fierce between the likes of Sean Carter, Kane Miskel, Justin Noye, Rob Thompson and Denzel Williams.
Carter finished sixth on the team last year in tackles with 59 and also was a top performer on special teams.
C.J. Bradshaw started a handful of games last year at nickel and recorded 29 tackles and his first career interception.
Thompson has battled injuries his first three years at ODU, but when healthy has been a solid contributor. He has bounced between corner and safety but is now entrenched at safety. He played in five games last season, recording seven tackles.
Miskel and Williams both redshirted last season and looked ready to contribute in spring practices.
Also returning are Christian Byrum and Andre Bernhard. Byrum redshirted last season after earning C-USA All-Freshman honors in 2014. Bernhard earned a role on last year’s team but suffered a season-ending injury in the season-opener at Eastern Michigan.
The Monarchs added Prince Ajegwu and Parrish Gordon on National Signing Day.