Nearly all D1 football players are "athletes". That doesn't mean that a kid who played exclusively at QB for 4 years is gonna just be able to flip over to LB and beat out other just as good athletes who have been practicing and training at LB for years.
I like Lanning, he is a good teammate, as lots of players in his position would have sulked and then transferred. Yet I don't think it is a good sign if he can just beat out the current LB, that wouldn't speak well of the LB currently there. That is all I'm saying.
Didn't the Hawks have some true freshmen play (maybe start) last year? What's the difference between someone who understands the in and outs of defenses (a starting an needs to) and someone who just showed up from the HS game? I think the former an what be better prepared.