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SEPTEMBER 22, 2011
S PORTS
T H E DA I LY TA R G U M
KEITH FREEMAN / PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Sophomore linebacker Jamal Merrell ranks second on the team in tackles with 12, including one and a half for a loss. In addition to his role as strongside linebacker, he is on kickoff return and coverage split time at strongside spot the teams — common proving ground for freshman linebackers continued from back at Rutgers. But he ascended quickly, earnhit. I’m the one trying to run people over, and they’re like, ing meaningful defensive snaps “You’re a wide receiver. You have against North Carolina after playing mop-up duty in a rout against to make cuts.” After two years of what North Carolina Central. “If you can deal with the physMerrell called a humbling process, the Bear, Del., native icality on special teams with began working with the ever ybody flying around, that first-team defense during makes the rest of the game come a little bit easier,” Snyder said. training camp. With Greene and Merrell It took significantly less time both new to the for Snyder to work position and his way into the Snyder new to defensive rotation, “They’re real college football, and the two will good athletes both strongside share repetitions at credthe position movand they wouldn’t linebackers it junior middle ing forward. be there if they linebacker Steve “I think they Beauharnais both deser ve to weren’t the best with helping play, and I think them adjust. neither one could guys for the job.” Like Snyder, handle it all themSTEVE BEAUHARNAIS Beauharnais selves right now,” Middle Linebacker star ted his colsaid head coach lege career on Greg Schiano. special teams, The two combut he did not earn significant plement each other. Merrell brings the physicality time on defense until nine weeks he craved as a wideout to the into the season. He played strongside lineposition, along with the speed that helped him line up wide as a backer as a freshman, then moved to the middle last searedshirt freshman. Snyder adds an impressive son and remains there now pursuit of the ball and ability to after a brief stint practicing on read plays for someone who suit- the strongside. Beauharnais sees the same ed up last season for Cumberland mistakes out of Snyder and Valley High School. “Something about Snyder is Merrell that make Schiano uncerlike he’s a natural leader out tain whether they could handle a there,” said junior weakside full-time role. But he also sees the linebacker Khaseem Greene. speed, pursuit and physicality “He’s an intelligent guy when it that make each deserving of playcomes to football. It’s kind of ing time. “You see the growing pains, uplifting to see a guy who can actually show some signs of obviously, when you see it on the leadership and not be ner vous field,” Beauharnais said. “But they’re real good athletes and or scared to say something.” Snyder still admits to experi- they wouldn’t be there if they weren’t the best guys for the job.” encing nerves.
SKILLS: Merrell, Snyder