South Carolina Football’s GOAT Series: Top-15 greatest linebackers of all-time
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s No. 6 Linebacker of All-Time:
Jasper Brinkley
Jasper Brinkley (2006-2008) was one-half of the most dynamic Gamecock twins to play at South Carolina. The big linebacker (6’3”, 270 pounds at his heaviest) used his weight well as he became an elite run stopper and one of the hardest hitters to wear garnet and black. He had a keen eye for diagnosing run plays, as his 20.5 tackles for loss are an extremely impressive number for a Mike linebacker who only played two seasons.
A two-time All-SEC performer, Brinkley missed almost all of the 2007 season with a torn ACL but bounced back to repeat his solid pre-injury production. After graduating, Brinkley showed his athletic freakiness by running one of the fastest linebacker 40-yard dash times at the NFL Combine despite being the heaviest ‘backer at the event. He went on to a 7-year NFL career.