What remains at the core: Bellore, Berning emerge as team’s leaders

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A look at the preliminary depth chart during spring football practices reveals turnover at two levels of the defense.

On the back end, defensive backs Josh Gordy, Kirkston Edwards and Eric Fraser graduated. On the defensive front, defensive ends Frank Zombo, Sam Williams and Larry Knight depart
as well.

But senior linebackers Nick Bellore and Matt Berning remain at the core of the defense, putting CMU coach Dan Enos at ease in some regards.

“Those guys have played a lot of football around here, and they have been productive,” Enos said. “When someone has played, you have immediate respect from people, and one thing those guys do is work very hard and lead by example.”

And one thing is evident from the beginning of spring sessions: This is no longer quarterback Dan LeFevour’s team.

“We have a chance now to prove ourselves as a senior class,” Berning said. “Before, it was the Dan LeFevour era. Now we want to prove ourselves as football players and leave our legacy.”

Bellore, the lone non-senior captain last year, said the duo’s ability to lead will be even more magnified than last season.

“It’s something Matt and I have been developing for a number of years here,” he said. “I think it is really starting to hit us that we are seniors. This is almost over. There is no one else to look to — it’s us or nobody.”

With six seniors on the defensive roster — only five with experience — the defense will look for more contributions from younger players, including junior Kashawn Fraser and sophomore Casaer Rodriguez along the defensive line, and junior John Carr, sophomore D.J. Scott, sophomore Jahleel Addae and sophomore LaVarus Williams in the secondary.

But during the transition to new coaches and systems, Bellore said even he needs a learning curve, but everyone accepts the transition.

“I feel like a freshman because everyone is at square one learning the defense,” he said. “I think it’s coming along practice by practice, and that is all you can ask for.”

MAKING THEIR MARK

Bellore totaled 132 tackles last season, more than Berning’s 108. Bellore’s 9.4 tackles per game ranked fifth in the Mid-American Conference, while Berning’s 7.7 ranked 16th. Behind Berning, 35 tackles separated him and the next-highest tackler on CMU’s roster.

The linebackers’ play sparked a rise from eighth to second in the MAC in rushing defense from 2008 to 2009. Last year, CMU gave up 122.9 rushing yards per game.

And a total defense that ranked 105th in the nation in total yards allowed per game in 2008 rose to 29th.

But in 2010, it is all about Bellore and Berning. The duo will be looked at first and foremost to soften the blow in the post-LeFevour era.

“We have to come together and realize we are the sole voice of the team and there’s no coucil or anything,” Bellore said. “It’s up to us to take the team where we want to take them.”