26 DAYS TO KICKOFF: Jarell Childs

#26 Jarell Childs Redshirt Junior 6-2 | 217 Kansas City, Mo. Bio

Position: Linebacker Previous College: None Projection: Second-String (if healthy); Third-String (if not) Status: On Scholarship

Jarell Childs (b. Jan. 4, 1990) is a rather unlucky fellow. He basically wasted his redshirt year in 2008 learning how to be a running back in Ron Prince's offense. Well, so much for that.

Then he wasted 2009 as a third-string running back who only rushed for 81 total yards that season. But finally, in 2010, it appeared as if he had found a way to contribute to the team by converting to linebacker.

He took to the position quickly, opening the season alongside Alex Hrebec as starters in the 4-2-5 defense. But due to injuries and other complications, neither finished the season as a starter.

Childs obviously hit a plateau, because Blake Slaughter stole more and more of his snaps and Tre Walker was forced into duty as an undersized true freshman.

But Childs still was battling for a starting spot in the new 4-3 defense. That ended this spring, when he reportedly tore his ACL. Now he'll simply be fortunate to play as a reserve in the latter half of the season.

If his redshirt was used for an injury in 2008, there's an outside chance of a medical hardship, but I wouldn't count on it.

The NCAA is notoriously fickle in awarding those, even when they're justified.