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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Linebackers Take Center Stage In Part Two Of 2012 Football Preview Series
August 27, 2012 | Football
This is part two of a seven-part preview series on the 2012 Princeton football season. Thanks to Andrew Pearson for the video clips, as well as Dan Loney (the voice of Princeton football) and Jay Greenberg (PrincetonFootballTigers.com) for their insights.
Defensive Line l Linebackers l Defensive Backs l Offensive Line l Offensive Skill l Quarterbacks l Overall
When Andrew Starks was elected co-captain of the 2012 Princeton football team, it confirmed that this team will once again trust its most experienced linebacker to serve as the leader of a young, talented squad.
Most years over the last decade, this has been the case; often times, though, that linebacker has held the inside position. As recently as the last two seasons, multiple-time All-Ivy honoree Steven Cody has served as captain. Justin Stull held the position for two years of his own.
Starks has played the strongside position over the last two seasons, but he has been as effective a run stopper as his predecessors. Starks led Princeton in tackles over the last two seasons; last year, he led the Tigers with 80 stops despite missing the Brown game with injury. He has also ranked in the Ivy League Top 5 in tackles per game each of the last two years.
This season, defensive coordinator Jared Backus will be looking for more impact plays from Starks, who didn't have a sack or an interception last season. He will also be looking for greater impact from weakside starter Tim Kingsbury, who averaged more than four tackles per game, but also didn't record either a sack or an interception.
Both Starks and Kingsbury do come with advanced knowledge on the defense, having started in Backus' system over the last two years. That fact alone, as well as the potentially dominant line in front of them, could make for big progressions this year.
The biggest question at this position during preseason camp surrounds the middle position, which opened with Cody's graduation. Both junior Alex Polofsky and sophomore Garrit Leicht gained experience at the position last season, but neither has established themselves as the starter yet.
Regardless of who earns the starting job, both will need to play a significantly higher number of snaps this season. Depth at the position will be crucial, and the coaching staff is hopeful that strong camps from Jess Patton and Kevin Navetta will translate into the fall.
There are also a handful of freshmen to keep an eye on, including Baxter Ingram, Wes Moon and Andrew Eherts.