Replacing a graduating player is never an easy task. However, when it comes to filling the shoes of Travis Belden, the job is even more unenviable.
Belden, a three-time All-Ivy League player, as well as three-time defensive MVP for the Red and Blue, had been a key component to a Penn defense that dominated the Ivy League last season en route to winning the league title.
Despite this loss, the linebacking corp of senior Steve Lhotak and juniors Luke Hadden and Ric San Doval is confident that it will be able to carry on the defensive dominance at the linebacker position that Penn fans have become accustomed to over the past several years.
Lhotak, the most experienced of the group, is coming off a season in which his numbers rivaled Belden's.
The senior held team highs in tackles-for-loss (16), tackles (64), sacks (7) and tied for the team lead in solo tackles (43). Those statistics helped Lhotak win a spot on last year's All-Ivy first team.
"[Belden] is not an easy replacement," Penn head coach Al Bagnoli said. "But Lhotak has been a dynamic presence himself."
Lhotak will be looked upon by both coaches and teammates to lead the defense during this upcoming season, as he has been voted one of three team captains.
San Doval is also coming off an impressive season in which he recorded six sacks, good for second on the team. He also chipped in with 31 tackles playing out of position at defensive end.
The junior was moved to defensive end last season due to the depth at linebacker, but he is expected to play a big role at linebacker this season.
"He has been a little sporadic in his play because he's been hurt a little bit," Bagnoli said. "[We're] still waiting for him to hit full stride. When he gets a couple straight weeks under his belt, he's got a lot of ability."
San Doval has been hampered by a lower back strain throughout the preseason, but should be ready by the Sept. 20 opener against Duquesne.
The third member of the crew, Hadden, has seen the least playing time of the three after participating in nine games last year and recording 15 tackles. Despite his limited action at linebacker, he played an integral role on special teams and should see the field more this year on defense with the graduation of Belden and Andrew Altman.
"He was on every special team we had," Bagnoli said. "[Hadden is] probably one of the fastest linebackers we've ever had. He's as fast as our safeties."
The most difficult aspect for newcomers Hadden and San Doval has been the on-field leadership role that they have been forced to assume. As the linebackers, they are in charge of calling defenses and making changes during the play.
"We knew we had big shoes to fill with Belden leaving, and I know that Luke stayed over the summer and so did I... really working out a lot," San Doval said. "A lot of [the adjustments] are more mental than physical."
With the most experience in the group, Lhotak will be looked upon to shoulder much of the load, but he has been more than pleased with what he has seen from his new playing partners.
"I feel good about these guys. They are doing a hell of a job," Lhotak said. "It is a lot of pressure, we have to make the calls, we have to run the defense, it's a lot of mental gymnastics."
