Penn State’s defense lost its top three linebackers, all of which are headed to NFL training camps this summer.
But, as a testament to the school’s legacy as “Linebacker U,” Joe Paterno isn’t worried. He said as much before April’s Blue-White game.
“I’m a little concerned about some depth, but not at the linebacker spot,” Paterno said this spring. “I think the linebackers have done well. I think we’ll roll out four or five linebackers that we can play with and compete with.”
With solid performances in the game from Chris Colasanti, Bani Gbadyu and Nate Stupar, Paterno’s point was proven for him hours later. Add Mike Mauti into that mix – he was held out most of the spring after an ACL tear forced him to miss the 2009 season – and the linebacking corps should be one of the Nittany Lions’ strengths this fall.
On the depth chart, the starters are listed as Colasanti in the middle and Stupar and Gbadyu on the outside, but Mauti pushed Josh Hull for the starting middle spot before the injury and said he’s at — if not better than — the level he played at last summer.
Gbadyu led the returning linebackers with 37 tackles last season, while Stupar notched 31 and Colasanti 18. Gerald Hodges also played in 11 games and had three tackles after switching from safety.
The tackling numbers don’t particularly jump out, but the four spent most of the season backing up a trio of NFL linebackers. Navorro Bowman and Sean Lee were first- and second-team All-Big Ten, while Hull led the Lions with 116 tackles.
The returning linebackers were able to receive some game experience because of injuries to Lee and Bowman, as Gbadyu started five games and Stupar started two.
In addition to the returning linebackers, the Lions brought in two of the top defensive recruits in the country, Mike Hull and Khairi Fortt. Scout.com rated Hull the top middle linebacker recruit in the country and tabbed Fortt as the 11th-best outside linebacker.
Fortt enrolled early but did not see much action in the spring game, while Hull was in the stands and joined the team for summer workouts after graduation.
The spring game served as a coming out party for the linebackers, as the starting group shined with 12 solo tackles and an interception.
But Colasanti said at Lift For Life earlier this month that if the linebackers produce this season, it will be a product of the entire defense.
“The D-line will be solid, which is awesome for us because it keeps the O-line off of us,” Colasanti said. “I’m looking forward to that this season, and I know the defense is gonna be ready.”
He noted it would have to be ready right away, calling it “an honor” to play defending national champion Alabama the second week of the season.
That “honor” will also be the linebackers’ first real test of the season, as they will face Heisman winner Mark Ingram, speedy-but-bruising rusher Trent Richardson and one of the best offensive lines in the country.