Texas A&M used to have no problems finding linebackers. They were banging heads on the practice field, trying to show their worth to join the Wrecking Crew. Lately, it's been the Aggie football coaches banging their heads trying to find linebackers.

A&M (2-2) has only eight scholarship linebackers, including a redshirt freshman and three true freshmen. The group came into the season with a combined four career starts.

The unit got a boost Saturday from freshman Ricky Cavanaugh, who made three tackles in a 21-17 victory over Army.

"He wasn't challenged a whole lot, but he didn't make any major mistakes," A&M head coach Mike Sherman said. "He did his assignment. He got caught up inside one time, but overall I thought he did a good job. He still has a ways to go, but he did a good job."

Cavanaugh played about 16 to 18 plays against Army, which rushed the ball 65 times. A&M's first three opponents averaged only 37 carries a game by comparison, and the heavy dose of running forced the Aggies to use more three-linebacker sets.

Cavanaugh is A&M's seventh true freshman to play this season. He joins defensive tackles Eddie Brown and Tony Jerod-Eddy, defensive back Terrence Frederick, wide receiver Jeff Fuller, running back Cyrus Gray and defensive back Trent Hunter.

Sherman said he's reluctant to give up a freshman's chance at redshirting.

"I want to make sure if we take it off he's going to play," Sherman said. "[Cavanaugh] can contribute so much on special teams and also as a linebacker. We're very thin at that position right now. We're hoping to get him ready to play next season, so to hold him back would be a disservice to him and to us I think. We decided at this point to just accelerate his learning."

The Aggies' most experienced linebacker is junior Matt Featherston, who leads the team in tackles with 40. He was flanked in the starting lineup Saturday by redshirt freshman Garrick Williams and sophomore Von Miller, who played end last season in a 4-2-5 alignment.

The Aggies had a pair of seniors at linebackers last year in Mark Dodge and Misi Tupe, who combined for 38 career starts. The junior college players were signed by former head coach Dennis Franchione to fill a void.

Sherman will have to recruit more linebackers running a 4-3 alignment.

The Aggies' last All-American at linebacker was Dat Nguyen, who helped A&M win the Big 12 championship in 1998. Nguyen had to wait his turn to become one of A&M's most celebrated football players, winning the Lombardi Award and the Chuck Bednarik College Defensive Player of the Year Award presented by the Maxwell Football Club.

Nguyen redshirted in 1994, when A&M's starting linebackers were Antonio Armstrong, Reggie Brown, Reggie Graham and Larry Walker. That quartet started every game and helped A&M lead the Southwest Conference in total defense. The Aggies finished with a 10-0-1 record.

Nguyen was the Aggies' 10th All-American at linebacker, a legacy that began with Bill Hobbs in 1968. But the Aggies' talent at linebacker has declined over the last decade. Jason Glenn is the only Aggie linebacker to make the coaches' all-conference first-team since Nguyen.

A&M's low point came five years ago when the defense allowed 225.1 yards rushing per game, which ranked 112th nationally. The inability to stop the run led to a 4-8 season.

The Aggies haven't been in the Top 20 against the run since finishing 19th in 2001. A&M allowed 1,247 rushing yards that year. This year's team already has allowed 910, which includes four straight 100-yard rushers. The Aggies rank 115th against the run, allowing 227.5 yards per game.

Help might be on the way for Sherman and defensive coordinator Joe Kines, who also coaches linebackers. A&M has four linebacker commitments for the 2009 recruiting class, including Louisiana's Michael Lamonthe and Jonathan Stewart, who are rated in the state's Top 40 by Rivals.com. They'll join the current group, which doesn't have a senior.

"We have probably the best linebacking coach in the country working with them, so from that standpoint, there's a comfort level there," Sherman said. "I think Matt Featherston has really made a lot of progress. Joe and I watched the tape Sunday morning, and Matt has really come a long way as a linebacker. I'm excited about his prospects.

"Von Miller is growing. Here's a guy who has had his hand on the ground, and when you move yourself back, it's just a different ball game. He's growing there, as well as Garrick Williams. It's a position that needs to keep getting better."

It could get worse before it gets better.

On Saturday, the Aggies play Oklahoma State, which lead the nation in rushing at 340.3 yards per game.

It will be the first road game for Cavanaugh, who Sherman added to last year's recruiting class along with six true freshman who also are playing.

"I don't care what you say, when you're being redshirted as opposed to not being redshirted, you learn a lot faster when you're not being redshirted," Sherman said. "You pay a lot better attention. Your attention to detail is more intense. We're hopeful that will happen with him, and we're just trying to get him ready to go. He has done some nice things in practice that warranted the fact that he could possibly contribute this year."