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The San Francisco 49ers are set for training camp to begin at the end of the month. But before the team can defend its NFC West division crown this upcoming season, let’s take a look at the depth of each position group on the roster as they prepare for camp. Linebackers are up next.

OVERVIEW

When discussing the 49ers linebackers, it’s only natural to begin with the All-Pro inside duo of Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman. Willis has arguably become the gold standard of linebackers across the NFL, earning five Pro Bowl invites in his five years in the league. Bowman, meanwhile, burst onto the scene in 2011 as a second-year player out of Penn State, starting all 16 games and instantly earning the respect of his peers, coaches and observers. Willis was recently voted the No. 10 player in the league on the NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2012 list, while Bowman made his debut at No. 85 on the list, which is voted on by the players. Sideline-to-sideline, there is no better combo of inside linebackers than Willis and Bowman, who also have some quality teammates flanking them at the outside linebacker positions. Seventh-year pro Ahmad Brooks was rewarded for his career year in 2011 by signing a six-year extension with the 49ers in February. Brooks set career highs in starts (16), tackles (59) and sacks (7), carving out an every-down role on the team after being a situational player to begin his career. This season may mark a changing of the guard at the other outside linebacker spot, given Aldon Smith’s impressive rookie campaign. The University of Missouri product racked up a 49ers rookie single season record of 14 sacks during the regular season and added two more in the playoffs, meaning he could push Parys Haralson out of his starting role. Haralson has been an anchor of the 49ers defenses in recent years, starting 47 of 48 regular season games during the last three seasons. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he would like to see Smith grow as a run-stuffer in his second season before he hands over the keys to the starting job.

DEPTH

RETURNERS: Ahmad Brooks (seventh season, fifth with San Francisco), NaVorro Bowman (third season), Parys Haralson (seventh season), Aldon Smith (second season), Patrick Willis (sixth season), Larry Grant (fourth season, second with San Francisco) and Tavares Gooden (fifth season, second with San Francisco). NEWCOMERS: Darius Fleming (fifth-round pick, Notre Dame), Cam Johnson (seventh-round pick, Virginia), Eric Bakhtiari (first season), Kourtnei Brown (undrafted, Clemson), Joe Holland (undrafted, Purdue), Michael Wilhoite (first season).

The 49ers rolled the dice last year by playing with just three outside linebackers but they made it through the season without incident. On the inside, the 49ers will return a pair of quality contributors who also make a major impact on the special teams unit. Larry Grant and Tavares Gooden both signed deals to return to the 49ers this offseason following their first year with the team and Jim Harbaugh in 2011. Grant proved to be a crucial part of the team’s late-season success, as he filled in admirably for Willis down the stretch while the All-Pro recovered from a hamstring injury. Like Grant, Gooden was a staple of last year’s stellar kick and punt coverage units, and said he hopes to carve out a bigger role on defense in 2012. The 49ers also added a couple of linebackers through the draft – picking Notre Dame’s Darius Fleming in the fifth round and Virginia’s Cam Johnson in the seventh round – but both players have unfortunately experienced injuries in their first offseason with the 49ers. Fleming reportedly tore his ACL just minutes into his first NFL practice during a rookie minicamp in May, while Johnson underwent a minor knee procedure recently but is expected to be at full strength for training camp. Free agents like Eric Bakhtiari and players like Michael Wilhoite – who spent part of the 2011 season on the 49ers practice squad – are also fighting for spots on the stocked 49ers depth chart.

STANDOUT STAT

294

Need tackles? Willis and Bowman got you covered. The explosive duo accounted for nearly 300 tackles its first full season together, according to 49ers Public Relations.

QUOTABLE

“Pat and NaVorro are just special, they really are. The Lord’s blessed them with a lot of talent and they’re very gifted, but the thing that I love about them is that they ask so many questions. They want to be great. Every day in practice they work so hard, they’re so focused and they have genuine love for each other.”

 -Linebackers coach Jim Leavitt on June 8 after watching his team practice during the offseason program.