Sports

By Joe Soprano jsoprano@timesleader.com
Sports Page Designer
Joe Soprano on Facebook   |   on Twitter

Replacing two all-American linebackers can’t be an easy thing to do.

But with Dan Connor in the NFL and Sean Lee out for the season with a knee injury that’s exactly what Penn State has had to do this preseason.

So it’s only logical to assume that the Nittany Lions’ linebacker corps will take a bit of step backward this season, right?

Well, not according to those who will be taking the field.

“It can be amazing,” Bani Gbadyu said when asked how good the unit could be. “We got leadership. We got swagger. We just got attitude. Everyone in this linebacker corps can play.

“All of us can hit it. All of us can run. All of us are incredible athletes. It’s just a matter of which of us can play within the defense and know what they are doing in the heat of the action.”

Gbadyu is expected to see playing time at Lee’s old outside linebacker position. The 6-foot-1, 221-pound redshirt sophomore played mostly on special teams last season.

Still, even with the inexperienced Gbadyu manning his old spot, Lee thinks the Lions linebackers can be something special this year.

“It’s going to be as good as it has been in the past,” said Lee, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury during spring practice. “You know we have the athletes. It’s just a matter of experience. We have a ton of good football players.”

Even the usually pessimistic Joe Paterno had plenty of good things to say about his linebackers.

“I think it’s a good solid group,” said Paterno. “Some of those young kids are going to be awfully good. Some of the kids we recruited last year at linebacker are awfully good athletes. Young (Michael) Mauti is going to be an outstanding athlete. (Nate) Stupar, a local kid who didn’t play last year, he’s got tremendous ability. A kid by the name of (Michael) Yancich has got a lot of ability.”

Even so, Paterno knows that this unit may only be as good as his other outside linebacker is.

As the only returning senior on the unit, Tyrell Sales will be counted on to provide the leadership that came from Connor and Lee last season.

“Everybody’s got a personality of their own, and sometimes people just wait for an opportunity to step to the front,” Paterno said when asked about Sales’ leadership ability. “Maybe that’s what Sales has to do.”

According to Lee, he already has.

“He knew he was going to need to step up being the guy who has the most experience and his last year being a senior leader,” Lee said. “And he’s done that.

“Ty has always been a great athlete. He’s a big, strong, fast guy. It’s just been a matter of time progression. I think he’s ready to take over.”

Moving into Connor’s old spot at middle linebacker will likely be Josh Hull, a 6-3, 231-pound junior who has worked his way up the ladder as a walk-on competing against classes of heavily recruited scholarship players. Hull saw playing time last season, recording 18 tackles.

Sophomore Chris Colasanti will push him throughout the season. A highly ranked recruit, Colasanti may have more raw talent than Hull and could take over the job with some more seasoning.

The wildcard is sophomore Navorro Bowman, who could be a starter but must get back in Paterno’s good graces after returning from a lengthy suspension that included last season’s Alamo Bowl.

Bowman made an impact on the field last season while battling injury, recording 16 tackles and one sack, forcing a fumble, recovering a fumble and blocking a kick.

Given all of that, the group that starts at linebacker on Saturday could differ greatly from the one that starts conference play in a month.

“I don’t know how the coaches are going to get all of us on the field,” Gbadyu said.

“There are so many good players here that can play, that can contribute that can do so much for the program. It’s just a matter of how the coaches want to do this.”

Doesn’t sound like a player concerned about replacing two All-Americans.