Penn's newest defensive stopper

It's too easy to focus on the faults.

It's true that the 2002 Penn football team is lacking its most crucial components from last season.

It's true that 16 starters will not return this season.

That's scary, no doubt. Behind those absences, however, is a solid squad of talented athletes.

The key to a successful season will be using those athletes to their fullest and relying on the experience of the few veteran players.

In short, Penn must look to its defense.

They may not be record-breakers or glory-stealers like Gavin Hoffman and Kris Ryan, but they have the requisite experience to carry this year's squad.

And in the midst of chaotic rearrangements, Penn's defense will serve as the basic blocks for the team.

The Quakers' 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Kevin Stefanski, will not turn nearly as many heads when you mention his name as will the names of Mike Mitchell or Stephen Faulk.

But he's a perfect example of the type of player Penn will rely on this season.

He, like much of the team, is not flashy -- but he is determined.

"We've got guys who can make plays," Stefanski said. "Push comes to shove, they're gonna get that interception, they're gonna strip that ball, they're gonna recover that fumble."

In his freshman season, Stefanski recorded 27 tackles, 18 of which were solo. He snatched his first collegiate interception against Yale.

His freshman accolades behind him, Stefanski headed into his sophomore year filled with promise. But Stefanski's second season would end less than one game after it began.

"I tore my ACL last year, in the first game of the season and red-shirted the rest of the year," Stefanski said.

But instead of abandoning the game -- or giving up -- he went to the training room to rehab.

One year later he's playing without a brace and, in his mind, without any handicap.

"I wasn't the fastest guy coming in here, and then I hurt my knee," Stefanski said. "You gotta know your strengths and you gotta know your weaknesses. I know my strength is I can fill the run and come up and be physical.

"Know thyself."

This philosophy is something that Stefanski wishes to pass down to the younger members of the Penn squad.

He realizes that as a junior on such an inexperienced squad, he must learn to fill the role of leader and mentor.

"We have a lot of different personalities that mesh in their own way," he said. "I'm not the most vocal guy, but there's a lot of responsibility for me to step up this year. They look to me to be a mentor to the younger guys."

As for rebounding from the Quakers' roster losses from last season, Stefanski is concerned, but confident.

"If we have to surprise people, we'll surprise people," Stefanski said. "But we won't be surprising ourselves."

This season is about overcoming the challenges and making up for the faults.

Much like a torn ACL, they are setbacks from which Stefanski -- and the Quakers -- will learn to recover.

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