Micah Davey could be the best linebacker in all of FCS.

Marques White can rush the passer from the outside and drop back into coverage.

Tristan Driggers makes tackles near the line of scrimmage and can race back to play deep safety when asked.

McNeese State enters the new season with its best linebacking corps, maybe in program history, but can the whole be greater than the sum of its parts?

Cowboy coaches believe it is possible.

“We got guys back there who can make plays all over the field,” said McNeese defensive coordinator Tony Pecoraro. “And they all attack the guy with the football.”

The trio is unique off the field as much on, each with a unique path to McNeese.

Davey is Louisiana football royalty. His father was a starting quarterback at LSU and has two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots.

White is from the Arizona desert and played his high school football for a former NFL quarterback in John Kitna at powerhouse Brophy Prep in Phoenix. He played four seasons at Dartmouth of the Ivy League and is a graduate student at McNeese.

Driggers began his college football career at a junior college in his home state of Texas before moving to Louisiana-Monroe for two seasons. He comes to McNeese after making 83 tackles for the FBS Warhawks.

They have come together believing they can turn around a McNeese defense that was historically bad.

“We are a lot better in the front and we have dudes all over the field,” said Driggers.

As for his partners at linebacker, he is excited about playing by their side.

“We can complement each other pretty well,” Driggers said. “Marques just attacks and plays fast. Micah is amazing. He wants to make every tackle.”

Last year Davey did just about that. His 15.3 tackles per game led the FCS and earned him All-American honors. He is back on all the major awards watch lists and preseason All-American teams.

“Who would not want to play alongside a guy like that,” said White, who admitted one reason he picked McNeese was because of Davey. “He has welcomed us into the room.

“I think our linebackers are a three-headed monster.”

None of that seems to matter to Davey, who returns despite having options to go elsewhere after his redshirt freshman campaign.

“McNeese is home,” Davey said. “I want to be here when we turn this around and McNeese is back at the top of the Southland Conference.”

Davey says this season is all about redemption.

“I just want to win,” Davey said. “We want to right the ship. The main thing I’m excited about is redemption, proving everybody wrong, and restoring McNeese to its former glory.”

If there was any question about Davey’s desire it ended last season. Playing on a sore knee that required offseason work, and for a team long out of any race, he finished with 20 and 21 tackles over the final two games.

Head coach Gary Goff thinks this season could be even bigger for Davey.

“Micah looks stronger, is faster, and has lost some weight,” Goff said. “He has worked hard to get ready for this year. I am excited to see him this year. I think he can even be better.”

Meanwhile, White is looking to close out his career with a healthy season. The two-time All-Ivy League selection hasn’t played a full season since 2021 due to injuries.

“I just want to play a full year and do what I can,” White said. 

When he was asked if this was the best group of linebackers in all of FCS, he simply answered: “Could be, we will have to see.”