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the field of semifinalists for the Bed- narik Award, given to the nation's best all-around defender. There were six linebackers on that list, and only two – Arizona's Scooby Wright III and Texas's Jordan Hicks – matched or bettered Hull's tackle average. Even crazier is that Wright and Hicks aren't Butkus semifinalists, either. We're talking about tackling. Of all of the complexities of the modern game, it's perhaps the most basic, most fun- damental and important aspect. It's what makes a football player a football player. More important, it's what makes a linebacker a linebacker. And when it comes to tackling, Hull is one of the best. For the Butkus and Bednarik commit- tees, however, it appears to be a nonessential factor. Certainly the judges took other aspects into account. Sacks? Hull had as many or more than half of the Butkus semifinalists as of mid-November. Tackles for loss? He topped more than three-quarters of the names on the list. If there are any stat lines that hold him back, it's these: His only intercep- tion through 10 games was the one he grabbed against the Buckeyes, and the only fumble he forced was against Massachusetts. Heading into the Lions' road finale against Illinois, he had yet to make a splashy return or score a de- fensive touchdown like some of the other players who dot the award lists, although he showed that ability when he was the fourth linebacker in Ron Vanderlinden's epic linebacker rotation in 2012 that also included Michael Mauti, Gerald Hodges and Glenn Car- son, all of whom are currently in the NFL. Hull's size has always been a knock, too. No matter the production, he's had a difficult time shaking the per- ception that at 6-foot-0, 232 pounds, he's simply not big enough. But how did that play a role if Oklahoma's Eric Striker, a similar 6-0, 220 pounds, made the cut? Whatever criteria the committee members used to exclude Hull, they didn't consult opposing coaches. When assessing Penn State's defense during pregame press conferences, Mike Hull is often the first name out of their mouths. Not only is Hull one of the nation's most productive linebackers, but he's the leader of one of its stingiest defens- es, a claim that only a couple of the semifinalists can make, and Striker isn't one of them. Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald called Hull "one whale of a player" and said he would write him in if he could. Temple head coach Matt Rhule, a former PSU linebacker him- self, agreed. "He is tremendously instinctive and he plays with tremendous motor," Rhule said. "You can tell he's an emo- tional leader for them. He's all over the field. Even if you run a misdirection play, he's going to hustle to the football. He's just a tremendous player who plays at a high, high level play-in and play-out." Ohio State's Urban Meyer described him as a "Borland-type middle line- backer." Likening him, of course, to for- mer Wisconsin star Chris Borland, who was last year's Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Becoming the conference's defensive honoree and earning an All-America ci- tation are the more prestigious recog- nitions that are still attainable for Hull. There is hope that he will get at least part of his due on the national stage, but he must keep his foot on the gas pedal. And he'll need a little help from his campaign department, too, because if Franklin has one knock on Hull (see page 20) it's that he's not a loud, vocal leader. So it won't be Hull pleading his case; someone else will have to do it. "The only thing that matters," Hull said, "is that you have a team that is strong and that I'm helping our defense be successful every Saturday. That's the most important thing." But obviously – in the eyes of the Butkus and Bednarik voters, at least – it's not. ■ 111 E. Beaver Ave s State College, PA 16801 www.The-Phyrst.com 814.234.4406 137 Elmwood St. s State College, PA 16801 www.HappyValleyBeer.com Wood-fire Grill 12 Beers on Tap 200 Year Old Barn 821 Cricklewood Dr. s Toftrees, State College www.AmericanAleHouse.net 814.237.9701 s Piano Bar s Sommelier 814.238.1406 814.234.7700 s 1611 Atherton St. s State College 814.941.7788 s Plank Rd. Exit s Altoona www.ChampsSportsGrill.net s Best Game Bar s Large Groups Welcome c lc e W We s p u o r G e g r a L s a e B m a st G e B s S n S h 1 A 1 6 1 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 me co r a l l C S r G s rt o p S s p m a h C . www s t i x . E d k R n a l P s 8 8 7 7 1. 4 9 . 4 1 8 S s . t n S o t r e h t 1 A 1 6 1 s 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 t e n . l l i r na o o t l A e g e l l o C e at t S

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