WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- As the 2010 edition of Monmouth Football heads into this weekend's annual Blue/White Spring Game, an experienced corps of linebackers will look to anchor a defense that finished fourth in NEC scoring defense last season.

"The experience we have at linebacker is invaluable," said head coach Kevin Callahan. "If they can stay healthy, the linebackers should be the most solid group in the defense."

The Hawks return all three starting linebackers from last season, although a key focus for Coach Callahan and his staff is keeping the unit healthy after becoming somewhat depleted in 2009. With some Hawks defensive linemen and defensive backs seeing first time action, linebacker is one of the Hawks most stable positions.

"They are a group we are looking for a lot of productivity from," said Coach Callahan. "With some new faces and inexperience on the d-line along with new players in the secondary, I think they have a chance to be a solid group."

Senior Jeff Brady (East Aurora, N.Y./St. Francis) has been seeing first team reps as the inside linebacker in the Hawks 4-3 scheme this spring. Brady had played on the outside in his previous two seasons, including a breakout sophomore season in 2008 where he established career highs in nearly every category (54 total tackles, 2 sacks, 5.5 tackles-for-loss). After sitting out spring football last year due to an injury, he was switched to his current position in preseason camp. Brady compiled 36 tackles (19 solo stops) along with 2.5 tackles for loss and a pass break-up in nine games played and three starts. The senior was sidelined the final two contests of the season due to an injury.   

"Brady is continuing to make progress at his position," said Callahan. "Hopefully with a full spring under his belt this year, he will feel more comfortable at the position in the fall."

Joe Valenti (Bayonne, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) saw some time at both the inside and outside positions last season before being called upon to start in the middle for the Hawks' last four games. This spring, however, the junior has been moved back to the outside. Valenti led all MU linebackers with 64 total tackles (30 solo) in 2009, which were new career highs and also third best on the squad. The then-junior added three tackles for loss with one sack and an interception of 11 yards.

"Now that he is spending all of his time at the outside position, I think that he (Valenti) is becoming much more consistent in his play," said Callahan.

Redshirt Sophomore Nick Bonturi (Clarksburg, Md./ Damascus/Air Force Prep) was a staple in the Blue and White's defense last year, starting all 11 contests for MU at outside linebacker. Bonturi's 58 stops (25 solo) and three tackles for a loss of 5 yards were both career highs for the young backer.  He was also called upon to play on a number of Hawk special teams, where he blocked a field goal attempt.

"This is Bonturi's third year in the program, but it has been under two different defensive schemes," said Callahan. "I think he is starting to show the type of productivity that we thought he always had there."

Behind the starting three, transfer Ian Simon is seeing time at middle linebacker in his first spring with the Hawks. Simon led the Bison with 52.5 total tackles while collecting 3.5 tackles for a loss of 10 yards and a sack for a loss of five yards. Simon is using this spring to adjust to the Monmouth defense as he will vie for playing time in the fall.

"I think there has been a fairly steep learning curve for Simon this spring as he learns new terminology, techniques and things like that," Callahan said. "However, the last three practices he has looked like he has become very comfortable out there and things seemed to be clicking. He has shown us some really good things."

Junior Chris Mastrangelo (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) has played in 14 games for the Hawks throughout his career and has tallied 45 total tackles. He saw limited action this past season, seeing time in only four games and continues to be hampered by injuries this spring.

"Chris is a player who has been on the field for us before, so he brings more experience to the unit," Callahan stated.

Sophomore Jon Rogers (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) appeared in 10 games in 2009 before suffering a leg injury in the season finale against Robert Morris which has kept him out of the offseason conditioning program. He has been with the team this spring as he continues to work out his leg and get back into playing shape.

Newcomers Donald Brooks (Newark, Del./Caravel Academy), David Damirgian (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock), and John Lockwood (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) will also see time this spring and during preseason camp in August. Brooks and Demirgian continue to build on what they learned last season, while Lockwood will see time as a linebacker for the first time. After being recruited as a defensive end, he practiced at that position throughout the fall.

"I think this is a fairly good group," Callahan said. "We have a corps of guys who have experience and we hope they will be much improved this year. We also have another group who are gaining experience throughout the springs."

Overall, Coach Callahan said he is pleased with the effort he has seen from both the offense and defense heading into this Saturday's final spring scrimmage on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

"We have demonstrated improvement over all the different areas throughout the spring, which is what you like to see," Callahan said. "On offense, I'd like to be more consistent on third down and on our rushing unit as a whole. Defensively, we have given up some big pass plays over the top and on screen plays, and we need to limit those things the best we can."

The annual Blue/White Spring Game will kick off this Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 12 p.m. on Kessler Field.