Josh Hull's aware of the criticism he has faced from Penn State fans.

What Joe Paterno wants people to know is it's unwarranted.

"You want me to be critical of people who are too dumb to know what a good football player is?" Paterno said.

The starting middle linebacker has been a lightning rod of criticism from scores of fans who run down Hull's perceived problems: too slow, doesn't shed blocks, gets dragged forward when he makes contact, doesn't take enough steps toward the line of scrimmage.

"I'm aware of some of the criticism," Hull said. "I'm going to take it as it comes.

"You're going to experience some good, you're going to experience some bad. You can't let the negative experience affect you in a negative way."

Hull has only 21 tackles through five games, putting him on pace for 54 over 13 games.

Last year's middle linebacker, Dan Connor, finished with 145 tackles. Paul Posluszny manned the middle in 2006 and finished the season with 116 tackles.

Connor and Posluszny left behind strong legacies, and most players would struggle to replace the school's top two all-time leading tacklers.

But Hull, who's on the Dean's List in the engineering program, has been roundly criticized.

"He's a good, solid football player," Paterno said.

"I'm not going to get into that and justify criticism.

"You know, I go through that all the time.

"People call me up and say, 'Do you know what so and so said about you?' I say, 'No, I don't know what they said about me, and I really don't care.'

"And I think Josh is probably in the same boat."

Hull said he's easily been able to avoid staying away from the criticism.

"I'm here to do one thing, and that's to play football," Hull said.

"Regardless of what people say about me, regardless of the opinions that they have, I'm not going to let any of that bother me. I'm here to be a great football player, and that's what I'm going to be."

Hull's potential replacements have their own shortcomings.

Sophomore Chris Colasanti is listed as the second-string middle linebacker, but Navorro Bowman said last week Colasanti has "a long ways to go."

Other possibilities are redshirt freshman Nate Stupar and true freshman Michael Mauti.

Paterno was asked how far ahead Tyrell Sales and Hull are compared to Stupar and Mauti.

Athletically, Paterno said, the separation between the starters and the reserves isn't much.

But Hull's and Sales' experience puts the two ahead of the other linebackers.

"As far as experience and wins and things, they're much ahead of them," Paterno said.

If and until the gap between Hull and the team's other linebackers is closed, Hull figures to remain the starter.

He acknowledged a need to improve at shedding blockers and being more physical at the point of impact.

Hull said the game continues to slow down with each passing week, specifically citing his growth in pass coverage when he starts to spot the routes and be in position for the play.

The question is whether Hull will be in position to make enough plays to satisfy the Penn State faithful.

If not, Hull will continue to brush off the complaints.

"It's not bothering me right now, and if it does get to the point that it bothers me, I don't think I need to discuss that with anybody other than myself and my family," Hull said.