WHAT.

That may be the most amazing stat on this team this season.

How on earth is a part time LB racking up 100 tackles in 14 games?

I was wrong BTW. Hitchens had 135 in 2018.

Still.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">All this 4th down talk is distracting us from the fact that Joshua Kelley tried to jump over an unblocked defender with the ball stretched out from the 3-yard line <a href="https://t.co/q2Z787FZqk">pic.twitter.com/q2Z787FZqk</a></p>&mdash; Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF_Mike/status/1471838649310494722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He has played 62% of the snaps LMAO

He's been so much fun to watch transitioning to the NFL after watching him stick out like a sore thumb on some pretty mediocre Mizzou defenses. And yeah, he doesn't have the elite speed that someone like Gay has but every team needs a thumper and we clearly have ours. His lack of speed and susceptibility against the pass was always going to be the knock on his game....but unless my bias is clouding my judgement he's no slower than Hitchens has become at this point in his career. That guy seems like he's wearing concrete shoes half the time.

We tried to tell y'all.

Mizzou fans are hard on our own guys and Bolton was one of the most universally respected players the Tigers have had in recent memory.

There was just no way this guy wasn't going to be a good football player. Now there's still a question as to whether or not his ultimate ceiling will be Marvcus Patton or London Fletcher (y'know, were London Fletcher not an immortal due to feeding on the blood of infants), but nobody will get more out of their talent on this roster than he will.

This kid can play football.

Right?

What kind of rocket up his ass did he think he had? I guess maybe he was thinking it was 2nd down and any extra few feet he could get would set them up that much better on 3rd (and inevitably 4th) but.....nah, that dude just wasn't thinking at all.

Because that was duuuuuuuuumb.

Not a super important question, but how would you rate his leadership capabilities?

I do think leadership on a defense is important, and our second level will need some with Hitchens eventually moving on.

Andy Reid described Bolton as a very quiet guy in his press conference. Which is fine, just wondering if that's something he brings to the table.

Exceptional.

Let's not forget that when this defense was sucking the hind teat early in the season and Clark/Jones/Mathieu were ducking the press conferences, Bolton was out there front and center taking bullets for the team.

As a rookie and ostensible backup at that.

He's a heart and soul player in the DJ mold; not necessarily your rah rah Ray Lewis type, but a guy who's going to go out there with broken limbs if he can and set a tone for his unit.

I think he becomes the key emotional leader on this defense maybe as soon as next season. With Bolton in the LB corps, Snead in the secondary and Jones keeping it light on the DL, you've got some awfully good leadership on the defense going forward. Wouldn't hurt to have a red-ass in there somewhere but I really don't feel like paying a 30 year old safety $18 million/season into his decline years to get that.

I didn’t like his coverage abilities and 3 cone but last night really showed that talent. He’s a legit top 10 LB next year IMO

:bravo:

The guy is a natural leader and obviously grasps the defense well enough to make call adjustments.

He's almost ready. The defense is going to run through him next year.

He has been balls all out year. Incredible asset to our D

Bolton was the best linebacker in the SEC. It's not surprising what he is doing.

I hated the pick but love to see him beating my expectations.

Bolton and Gay should be an excellent duo for years to come. Both are complimenting Hitchens well at the moment.

We really missed Gay out there last night.