Cal Poly Spring Football Positional Preview: Linebackers
3/12/2025 8:00:00 PM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO — One of the most populous groups of returners in 2025 will be Cal Poly’s linebacking corps, which includes seven Mustangs who played in at least five games.
With so many important returners from last season, linebackers coach Kevin Clune is excited about the state of the roster, saying, “There’s been some definite growth [at the position]. I’ve got six guys competing for starting positions come August.” Head coach Paul Wulff agreed, “There are a lot of guys with plenty of experience under their belts now, and it looks like they’ve all taken big steps in the Spring.”
Judaea Moon is the only starting linebacker from 2024 that Cal Poly is missing this Spring, and the current group will need to find a way to replace his production at the position. Moon led all linebackers last season with 61 total tackles, including 39 solo.
We expect [the returners] to lead the defense. They’re supposed to be the vocal group, the middle of all communication on the defense, and they have to be knowledgeable about where everyone is and should be. We need their veteran leadership, guys that can go out there and take control of the defense at any point.Head Coach Paul Wulff
Leading the returners are sophomore Mikey D’Amato, redshirt sophomore Kenny Olsen, redshirt junior Ethan Calvert, and redshirt junior Je’kob Jones. Those four Mustangs accounted for over 1/5 of the team’s total tackles in 2024.
Calvert, totaling 35 tackles, flashed talent in pass coverage last year, leading the linebackers and third on the team with three pass breakups. Jones was the team’s fifth most-productive tackler last year with 45 total tackles.
D’Amato found his way into the backfield five times to lead Cal Poly’s linebackers in tackles for loss, totaling 45 tackles on the season for fourth-most on the team altogether. Olsen was also solid in stopping offenses from advancing, notching four tackles for loss and 39 total tackles.
“Mikey D’Amato has stepped up big time; his mental side of the game has gone way up. Kenny Olsen continues to be one of our best guys, Ethan Calvert is playing fast right now. Je’kob Jones is another guy who’s had a lot of reps and is improving every day,” coach Cline expressed in support of the group.
Ethan Rodriguez forcing the fumble and Ethan Calvert with the recovery! #RideHigh pic.twitter.com/OYNkyk1aXk
— Cal Poly Football (@calpolyfootball) September 7, 2024
FOURTH DOWN STOP HOW BOUT IT #RideHigh pic.twitter.com/4WlCzDuYuX
— Cal Poly Football (@calpolyfootball) November 16, 2024
This game is hard, and people don’t realize that you can’t just show up and start playing football. It takes years of playing and practicing to get to a point where you’re highly productive. So, for being here just 6-7 months, [the younger players] have come a long way and still have plenty left to become the guys they have the potential to be.Head Coach Paul Wulff
Head coach Paul Wulff and linebacker coach Kevin Clune were assertive about what they would like to work on before the 2025 season, with Clune saying, “All of our run fits and stopping the run game has to be our highest priority. As for working on our pre-snap awareness, we need to better understand the game and what needs to happen on every play.”
Coach Wulff added, “Linebacker is such a reactive position, so I’d like to see them get better and faster at recognizing plays, reading the game, and their overall reaction times.”
Also returning are some players who had less production but are expected to still fight for positions heading into the Fall. Troy Bean is the most notable name from that group on the stat sheet, tallying 18 total tackles and 1.5 for loss last season.
Bean is followed by Misa Paiau, Charlie Sullivan, Gage Burnett, Noah Sulick, Jake Javorsky, and Carson Jones. Three newcomers committed in the December 2024 signing period: Corbin Frutos (Chaparral HS), Anthony Navarro (Apple Valley HS), and Shane Ramstad (Vista Murrieta HS).
Coach Wulff closed by expressing confidence in the entire unit: “[The younger guys] still have a ways to go, but they’ve impressed me with their growth through not only the Fall season but Spring camp."
Our December 2024 recruiting class ??
— Cal Poly Football (@calpolyfootball) December 7, 2024
???: https://t.co/wGcwanztgY#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/76L6NBdnVM
