Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Football Pulls on the Pads
3/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan opened the second week of spring practice with its first full-pad workout of the season on Tuesday.
The Chippewas practiced for two hours in Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Following practice, cmuchippewas.com caught up with assistant head coach/linebackers coach Kyle Nystrom and senior linebacker Matt Berning to preview the linebacker position for the 2010 season.
Berning and classmate Nick Bellore return to anchor the defense after both posting 100-tackle seasons in 2009. Bellore, a three-year starter and two-year co-captain, enters his final season with 382 career tackles, 108 shy of Brian Leigeb's school record of 490. Bellore led the Chippewas in total tackles (132) and tackles for loss (13.0) and was an All-Mid-American Conference first-team selection last season.
Berning had the best statistical season of his career in 2009, posting career highs in tackles (108), tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (3.0).
CMU lost four-year letterman Tim Brazzel to graduation. Mike Petrucci, Armond Staten and Shane Torzy all are upperclassmen who could compete for the vacated starting role, while Jake Bentley, Landon Carter, Alex Smith and Kyle Zelinsky all saw playing time last season.
The Chippewas list 16 linebackers on the spring roster: three seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and four freshmen.
Hear Nystrom's and Berning's takes on the linebacker position in the CMU Sports Zone video below.
While the current Chippewas are off from practice on Wednesday, CMU's departing seniors from the 2009 team will showcase their skills for professional scouts at CMU's annual pro day. Ten seniors from last season's squad, as well as Antonio Brown, will take part in the event, which is closed to the public. Video highlights and photos from pro day will be available on cmuchippewas.com.
