Sometimes, the one-sided conversations between a coach and player are the most impactful. Coach talks. Player listens. And a decision is reached. No debate.
Such was the chat between Southern Illinois football coach Nick Hill and Salukis receiver Branson Combs after the 2021 spring season.
“(Hill) called and said he wanted my opinion and what I would like to do and I told him I would like to (still) play receiver,” Combs recalled. “He said, ‘OK, we’ll take your opinion and think about it over the next two weeks. I get a call and he said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to move you to linebacker.’ I was like, ‘OK, thanks, Coach.’”
Five-plus years later, Combs remain grateful his opinion didn’t matter and he didn’t stay at receiver. No way, no how would he be in the NFL had Hill granted his request. Don’t believe me? Just ask Branson.
“There was never a point where I could play receiver at a higher level (than college),” Combs said.
Three years of linebacker at Southern Illinois, an FBS program in the Missouri Valley Conference, was followed by one year at Wake Forest. Undrafted in 2025, he signed with the Jaguars, began the season on the practice squad and played in 10 games.
A week into Jacksonville Jaguars training camp, Combs is competing with Ventrell Miller for the starting weak-side linebacker spot that opened when Devin Lloyd signed with the Carolina Panthers.
Instead of using his marketing degree from SIU, Combs is in the NFL.
“You might think you know as a player, but coaches know better,” he said.
Southern Illinois to Wake Forest to Jaguars
Combs was a standout receiver in Evansville, Ind., totaling 3,732 yards in his high school career, which ranked fourth in Indiana history at the time. As a senior, he caught 73 passes for 1,517 yards and 24 touchdowns and was tabbed as a three-star recruit.
Combs joined Southern Illinois and redshirted (four games) in 2019 and caught 12 passes in 10 games in 2020.
Even though his targets weren’t plentiful, Combs felt he was improving and would eventually play a bigger role.
Hill and his coaching staff ended that.
“Linebacker was always the position I was better at; I was just worried about moving to a new position,” Combs said. “It’s really funny looking back at it.”
Funny because it worked.
Combs was a backup in 2021 (29 tackles in 11 games) before combining for 143 tackles and four interceptions in 2022-23.
Allowed a sixth year of eligibility due to the coronavirus, Combs entered the transfer portal ahead of the 2024 season and heard from Wake Forest defensive analyst David Elson.
“The first or second day, I was already talking to them; they were the first team to reach out,” Combs said.
Combs joined the Deacons and made 14 tackles in his second game (Virginia). If he needed affirmation, he got it.
“The first game against North Carolina A&T, I really didn’t play well,” he said. “I was always confident through the spring and fall camp; I felt I could fit in and wasn’t a sore thumb. But definitely being able to do it in the first ACC game helped me gain the confidence of, ‘I definitely belong here.’”
Combs made 96 tackles and was named second-team All-ACC. He was not drafted.
“I had heard where I was at — late round or undrafted — so I wasn’t surprised,” he said. “I felt like I had done enough to get a shot. But I got to pick (the Jaguars) and once you’re on the field, the best guys will get to play.”
Platoon with Miller?
Miller vs. Combs has developed into a good competition in camp, but here’s the thing: There is room for both to play and I think Jaguars coach Liam Coen hinted at it last week.
“If you think about it, how much teams are trying to expose linebackers in coverage, we saw what Devin was able to do for us in coverage and be able to create some turnovers with vision on the quarterback and I think Branson innately does that,” Coen said.
Is it possible the Jaguars might play Miller on early-down/base defense situations (four linemen and three linebackers) and then use Combs on third down nickel situations (four linemen and two linebackers)? I think it’s in play … and should be. This isn’t like on the offensive line or at middle linebacker — platooning weak-side linebackers wouldn’t mess with the rhythm and communication of the entire unit.
“Athletically, (Combs) gives us something there,” Coen said. “He’s tough, he’s smart and he understands football.”
Combs had an interception in practice on July 31 and knows he is being evaluated on every single snap. What an opportunity, though, for him considering his college career started at a lower level and a different position.
“Last year, special teams was my role and now, I’ve been able to figure some things out, smooth some of the edges out and just get a chance to compete,” he said. “That’s all you can really ask for. Whatever (my role) is, I’m going to embrace it.”
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night”), Thursdays (1:15 on “XL Primetime”) and Fridays (4-6 p.m. on “The Lead”).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: How one phone call changed Jaguars LB Branson Combs’ football journey
Reporting by Ryan O’Halloran, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ryan O'Halloran, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
