Football: Hornets sport depth, talent at linebacker
Three new starters anchor linebacking corps where all are first-team material -- By Michael Petre (Daily Staff Writer)
WINCHESTER — Rip Roberts is the odd man out, the one who doesn't quite belong.
Despite being the only underclassman expected to start at linebacker in the Hornets' season opener at Catholic on Saturday, Roberts still feels right at home.
"It's just like hanging with your big brothers," Roberts said after practice Thursday. "They take care of you, and you make plays when you can."
Roberts is the exception in terms of class standing, but he's one of three SU linebackers who have taken a starting role for the first time. Senior Von Homer joins Roberts as SU's fresh faces at outside linebacker, and senior middle linebacker Evan Ruffner lines up alongside fellow senior Curtis Hunter, an all-USA South Conference selection last year. Graduation — and a slight change in the Hornets' defensive scheme — opened up three starting jobs at linebacker, making competition intense through the spring and into training camp.
"Everybody was out there fighting for their job," Ruffner said. "Nothing's guaranteed out here. Everybody was going hard every day, just to make sure they get a starting spot."
That wasn't guaranteed for anyone, including Hunter, who strained a hip flexor on the first day the Hornets practiced in full pads last month. The injury gave junior Mike Guerra an opportunity to grab the starting spot from the all-conference standout.
"That's the thing that stinks about injuries," said Hunter, whose hip is back to full strength. "There's no clear-cut starter. We have four starting middle linebackers, and that's how we're going to approach this weekend."
Assistant coach Steve Gill, who coaches the defensive line and middle linebackers, said Hunter will likely start, but both players will see action.
"I like to rotate them in about every four plays," Gill said. "You've got to go out there and bring it every play — it doesn't matter who's starting."
That's the way Roberts approached training camp. After playing mostly on special teams last season, Roberts shifted from fullback to the other side of the ball, anticipating an opportunity to play outside linebacker or safety. Even though he hadn't played much defense since high school, Roberts made enough of an impact in training camp to nail down a starting job at outside linebacker.
"He might be, physically, the most complete linebacker," Gill said. "He's got good speed, he's strong and he picks up on things."
Roberts said he kept his goals simple, and tried to eliminate any mistakes that would draw the coaching staff's ire toward him. That mindset paid off.
"I always want to prove I belong," he said. "I think that's in the back of everybody's mind."
Of the three new starters, Ruffner boasts the most experience. A backup at middle linebacker last season, Ruffner made 37 tackles and played in all 11 games. And by rotating players in and out constantly, the SU coaching staff was able to expose plenty of players to the speed of the collegiate game.
"We're definitely not short on experience," Ruffner said. "The rotation we had last year gave everyone the chance to be in there. We're two deep at starters."
More than likely, those listed at No. 2 on the depth chart — Guerra, freshman Christopher Mills, sophomore Wes Fry and junior Clive Williams — will get a chance to prove they deserve to start. It's competition like that, Homer said, that makes playing defense for the Hornets a challenge.
"Definitely, definitely," Homer said. "That's what kept me going through camp."
In his first season at Shenandoah, and after spending two years guiding former USA South member Chowan to Division II, Gill said the skill of the Hornets defense has impressed him. The linebackers are no exception.
"I hate to toot the horn of the athletic ability of these kids," Gill said reluctantly. "But we've got some good ballplayers over here. Even if they mess up with their alignment or their responsibility, they have the speed, aggressiveness and athleticism to make up for a mental mistake."
When you're competing with players like that, fitting in isn't too difficult.
"I had my heart set on being the starter, and that's what it's come down to," Ruffner said. "I guess I lived up to it."
R Contact Michael Petre at mpetre@nvdaily.com
Marginalia on starting linebackers
* Von Homer, senior OLB. 11 tackles, INT in nine games as reserve last season.
* Curtis Hunter, senior MLB. 62 tackles, six TFL in 11 games. All-USA South Conference selection.
* Rip Roberts, sophomore OLB. Played special teams in eight games. Shifted from fullback to linebacker during offseason.
* Evan Ruffner, senior MLB. 37 tackles in 11 games as reserve.
