Am I right for a linebacker or for a lineman?

Question

I am 14 years old and i am going to gr.10. I am 6'0" and weigh about 170 lbs. There are not many tall people on my team, just about 3 or 4 others and I am pretty sure they are going to be in either the oline or the dline. And I have a feeling that the lineman are going to have to play both offense and defence. One of my football coaches said that I'd be a great dlinemen and another said that I should be a linebacker. I have no experience in any but I love to tackle hard and I can bence about 150lbs. If it were up to me i would be a linebacker but which one would be better for me?

Answer 1

The coaches will decide based on your 40 yd speed.  If you're fast enough they may try you at LB.  It's a real intense position to play and you have to learn to read the offence.  They may decide to start you at line and see how you do.  Study and learn from the pros and more experienced players on your team.  Good Luck.

Answer 2

talk to your coaches about the need they have to fill before the season they will place in a spot where you can make a difference for the team

Answer 3

play what you think you would enjoy if i wer you i would pick linebacker

Answer 4

I depends on how fast you are.  If you run a 4.6 to 5.3 40yd dash, then I would guess Linebacker.  If you are slower than 5.5 I would put you at Defensive end because you seem a little small for an interior defensive lineman.  

On the positive side you still have some growing to do and with that will come strength, speed, and height and who knows what your future holds.

good luck!!

Answer 5

Since you're going into Grade 10, I'm assuming you'll be trying out for the junior varsity team.  For a 10th grader of your size, you kinda fall in between linebacker and defensive end for a JV squad.  But I'm sure that your coaches will run you through a buncha drills in tryouts to try to determine which position is best for you.  

If the linemen hafta play on both sides of the ball, you're probably a bit undersized for the O-Line, although it really depends on how many other big guys there are trying out.  Your size isn't ideal, but if there aren't enough big boys for the o-line, they might put you there outta necessity.  But even in grade 10, there should be plenty of linemen who are bigger than you.  Hopefully you have the speed to play linebacker--which, assuming you're Canadian, probably isn't in the 4.6-4.8 range as previously suggested.  When I was playing JV ball in Calgary, I think the fastest guy in tryouts ran about a 5.2, so if you're in the 5.4-5.5 range, you're probably fast enough.

But the bottom line is, listen to your coaches.  They'll know where you'll be best suited to play, so go where they tell you to.

Answer 6

it's really a question of speed and agility, 1st off you must benchpress your body weight+ or football is over unless you are fast in pads,  what is your athletic prowess with pads on, are you comfortable, feel like you can do almost anything athletically,  then  linebacker is the spot especially if you like the contact, now if you are not the fastest but quick then go for the middle and work on get to the ball and how to unload when you tackle, I don't reall think that you are right for DE but I'm sure you can turn the corner on a fat kid and it's all about technique if you are down, and it could be a way to college,

Answer 7

hmm id say dont even go out for football...your 6ft and weigh 170 and you can only put up 150 wow....thats pathetic...so that basically means you have no strength what so ever...but if i were you stick to the d-line linebacker will be too much for you....you basically have to lead the defense and make the calls and what not....and you have to have a good leadership ability and im guessin you dont have one lol....but in the future if you really wanted to be a linebacker well start dieting correctly meaning eat everything you see considering you weigh 170 and your 6ft.....thats pretty small....so yea and make up a good workout routine and follow it....dont slack off on it....and you may be a good football player....

Answer 8

Wow man, I just turned 13 and I'm 145 pounds and I'm 5'6''. You don't seem to be very strong, considering you can't bench your own weight. I say you go for safety, free safety.