The linebacker position for the Virginia football team divides fairly neatly into three tiers. Micah Kiser, experienced producers, and unknown hopefuls.

Yes, Kiser moved into a category by himself the past two seasons. He led the ACC in tackles both seasons and finished third nationally in 2016 by making 11.2 stops per game. He earned first-team All-ACC honors and some All-American recognition in back-to-back seasons. He enters his final season with 266 career tackles, 14 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and nine passes defended.

Beyond that, he played every snap on defense in Bronco Mendenhall’s first season. That makes shaping the defense around Kiser and Quin Blanding, who both turned down NFL Draft opportunities to return to UVA, a great starting point for 2017. Kiser provides not only tackling security for the defense, but he’s able to get people into the right spots and make adjustments on the field based on what he sees and has seen. The ability to get into the pocket for sacks as he has the past two seasons is a bonus.

Virginia features other experienced producers at linebacker too.

Both Chris Peace and Jordan Mack came up with a number of plays as outside linebackers last fall. Peace started all 12 games for the Hoos and finished with 53 tackles, two sacks, two quarterback hurries, and two passes defended. Those tackles make him the third leading returning tackler on the team behind only Kiser and Blanding.

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