Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/79325
just reassurance that Penn State is where he needed to be." With his college choice reaffirmed – and with Khairi Fortt having left for California – Hull becomes an essential figure in the Nittany Lions' linebacker rotation. Assistant coach Ron Vander- linden said the starting lineup is set, with Michael Mauti manning the Will position, Glenn Carson in the middle and Gerald Hodges at Sam. But Hull will be the first substitute when a backup is needed, and there will likely be instances in which Penn State will run formations with four linebackers on the field at once. A former four-star recruit and U.S. Army All-American, Hull's primary po- sition is at Sam. But, he said, "I can play all three spots," including on the inside. Over the summer he bulked up to 228 pounds – up from 217 in the spring – and he said the added weight will help him handle the burden of playing a variety of positions. Vanderlinden has taken notice this preseason. "He would be one of our first substi- tutes at several positions," the veteran linebackers coach said. "In the middle? We'll see, but the [added weight] is helpful. It just helps him be strong enough to shed all sorts of blockers and get to the football. It helps him to give a little more punch when taking on blockers. It doesn't look like he's lost any quickness when he added his weight, either." Hull's size has always been the biggest knock on him. As a recruit, he was often referred to as a "tweener." Some programs recruited him as a safety, others as a linebacker. Vanderlinden, though, saw him hit. He saw him shed blocks. He saw his talent for getting to the ball carrier. He knew he was a linebacker, and with time, the size would come. And that time is now. As a redshirt sophomore with three years of remain- ing eligibility, Hull has the potential to become one of the next greats in Penn State's rich tradition of linebackers. And Hull is more than familiar with the Nittany Lions' linebacker tradition. He is, after all, a Penn State guy at heart. LETTERMEN RETURNING Glenn Carson*, Gerald Hodges*, Mike Hull, Michael Mauti*, Jamie Van Fleet LETTERMEN LOST Kenny Pollock, Nate Stupar*, Khairi Fortt RISING STAR Carson started every reg- ular-season game at middle line- backer as a sophomore but some- how managed to fly under the radar. With a season under his belt, it's now his time to shine. BIGGEST LOSS He probably wasn't go- ing to start, but Fortt's departure is a blow to Penn State's depth. He could play all three linebacker posi- tions and play them well. NUMBERS GAME Penn State has al- lowed 16.4 points per game over the past eight seasons, fourth-best in the country behind Alabama, Ohio State and Virginia Tech. THE OUTLOOK This should be the strength of the defense. Hodges is a legit Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year candidate after making 106 tackles and 4.5 sacks as a junior. Mauti, meanwhile, is on the mend. The senior outside linebacker has had two ACL tears in his career, but he appears to be back at full strength, and a healthy Mauti is sure to put a charge in this defense. Carson is poised for a breakout sea- son after finishing fourth on the team in tackles with 74. PHIL SAYS Even with Fortt heading to California, it's possible that Penn State has the Big Ten's best starting STRONGSIDE OUTSIDE LINEBACKER NO NAME 22 T.J. Rhattigan MIDDLE LINEBACKER 40 Glenn Carson 6 Gerald Hodges Sr. 6-2 237 43 Mike Hull YR HT WT So. 6-0 228 Fr. 5-10 193 33 Michael Yancich Sr. 6-2 233 51 Drew Boyce So. 6-3 235 Fr. 6-1 217 WEAKSIDE OUTSIDE LINEBACKER 42 Michael Mauti 38 Ben Kline 5Nyeem Wartman Sr. 6-2 232 Fr. 6-2 224 Fr. 6-1 236 linebacker unit. Hodges has All- America potential, and Carson is sol- id in the middle. If Mauti is healthy, he will be one of the top outside line- backers in the conference. Fortt's de- parture does hurt, however, as Penn State defensive coordinator Ted Roof had been expected to run some 3-4 sets with Fortt as the fourth line- backer. Hull could end up replacing Fortt in the new defensive alignment. Senior Michael Yancich, redshirt freshman Ben Kline and true fresh- men Nyeem Wartman and Brennan Franklin add depth. * Starting experience in 2011