STATE COLLEGE — From tackling drills to side-to-side lunges in warmups, Glenn Carson seemed to have a shadow whenever he was on the practice field Wednesday with the way Mike Hull followed him around.

Hull was never more than a couple steps behind Penn State’s veteran middle linebacker.

The top reserve at linebacker last year is gearing up this spring for a first-string assignment on the outside with Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges off to pursue their NFL dreams.

“The thing I’ve taken from them is the way they played the game,” Hull said before practice Wednesday. “They’re intense. They did have great leadership qualities.

“That’s how it is at Linebacker U. Whenever it’s your time to step up, it’s `go time,’ your time to shine. I’m ready to fill that role on the defense.”

Without question, Penn State loses productivity and leadership with leading tacklers Hodges (109) and Mauti (95) done with their blue-and-white careers.

Carson, though, is back. Overshadowed by playmakers Hodges and Mauti, Carson had 85 tackles last season, and provides savvy and experience after two seasons starting in the middle. He’s made the play calls and called the check-downs. Now, he knows he’ll have to assume more of a leadership role at linebacker, and for the defense overall.

“I know a lot of the defensive schemes, so that role really hasn’t changed for me,” Carson said.