Typically, when only two starters remain on the defensive side of the ball from the previous season, there would be cause for concern. As the football team faces an opposing challenge in rebuilding the defensive corps, it is reassuring that senior middle linebacker Chris Costello can be counted upon as a returning building block. A preseason All-American honorable mention, Costello led the Red with 90 tackles and nine tackles for a loss in 2008.

Flanking Costello on either side will be senior Aaron Levine at strong-side linebacker and junior Brandon Lainhart at weak side linebacker. Levine, primarily a special teams player last year and Lainhart, who was sidelined all of last season with an injury, will see their first significant minutes at the linebacker position this season.

Levine’s presence as a wily veteran and his in depth knowledge of the system should serve him well while Lainhart’s performance in practice has so far exceeded Cornell’s coach’s expectations. However, it is Costello, who has captured the attention of opposing offensive coordinators.

“He’s the guy that has the experience,” said head coach Jim Knowles ‘87. “He’s been in the fire. He’s one of the leading tacklers in the league, so they’ll look to him a lot [for] his production, his energy and his toughness. He’s a very confident presence.”

In 2008, shutting down the opponent’s ground game proved to be a difficult task for the Cornell defense, which ranked next to last in the Ancient Eight. In 2009, the linebackers will play an integral role in stopping the run.

“Looking at the Penn game alone [in 2008], we were on the field for almost 80 plays [and] about three-quarters of those are running plays,” Costello said. “It has a lot to do with mentality, being tougher and more physical. That’s huge, and also our coaches have been working hard all off season, fixing our schemes and making sure we’re all going to be in the right spots, so they’ve really done a good job.”