Indiana Football: Aaron Casey among highest graded returning linebackers

The Indiana football program is looking to lean on veteran linebacker Aaron Casey in 2023 in order to get the defense back to what it was a few years ago. After losing Cam Jones to the NFL this year and Micah McFadden last season, Casey is now the leader of the linebacking core — and the defense.

Staying healthy has been something Casey has been able to do throughout his career. He’s played in at least 11 games in each season, outside of the covid year. Then, he played eight games.

His 2022 was fantastic, finishing with 86 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He had double-digit tackles in four games and averaged eight tackles a game.

Now, returning to the Indiana football program for sixth season, he’s one of the top linebackers entering 2023.

According to Pro Football Focus, Casey is a top-10 returning linebacker. His rating of 79.7 last season ranks him seventh among returning players at the position. He is second in the Big Ten behind Wisconsin’s Maema Njongmeta — who is ranked first.

Casey’s 86 tackles last season were 12 more than any other player on the Indiana football roster.

Indiana lost nine of its top 10 leading tacklers from a season ago. Aaron Casey is the lone returner.

Now, Casey will be playing with a new defensive play caller. Matt Guerrieri arrives from Ohio State.

Already, Guerrieri is impressed with Casey’s skillset.

“He can process, too … Then he has athleticism to play in space and he’s got physicality to play in the box,” Guerrieri said. “So to me, if you can do those things at linebacker, you check all the boxes.”

The Indiana football program went 4-8 last season. In the past two years, it has combined for a 6-18 record.

If Indiana looks to flip the script, Casey’s all-around development will be a critical part of that.

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