The night before No. 6 Penn State's game against Purdue, Josh Hull relaxed in the lobby of West Lafayette's Best Western hotel with a few of his family members.
The senior linebacker's mind was devoid of the criticisms he'd faced thus far from fans and the media -- reports that he's too slow, he can't shed blockers, he can't cover opposing skill position players.
Instead, Hull said he took the time to visit with his parents and aunt and uncle. They talked about the trip to Indiana and used the down time to catch up. Hull waited until gameday to respond to his critics.
He did so by turning in the best performance of his career with 11 tackles. Hull led the Penn State defense with nine stops in the first half. Two of his tackles were for losses.
After the game, a quick-talking Hull said he again blocked the criticism out and instead relied on his instincts.
"During the week, I prepared just as I would for any other game but I felt real good on the field today," Hull said. "I was just reacting to everything. I wasn't thinking, I was just seeing what was going on in front of me and reacting."
This weekend, Hull will have less time to react against Wisconsin's bulldozer -- P.J. Hill. Hull could prove all of his doubters wrong if he and his teammates can stop Hill, who ranks fourth in rushing yards and third in carries in the Big Ten this season.
The responsibility for spying Hill will likely fall on Hull -- who was thrust into the starting spot earlier this spring when Sean Lee was lost for the year with an ACL tear.
With Lee out, Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said Hull has had to take on most of the responsibilities as the leader of the defense.
"It's interesting because we ask so much of that guy to do," Bradley said. "I don't think people realize how many different things we ask our linebackers to do in our base and in our nickel package and all the different things that [Hull's] required to do."
Like he did for the previous five weeks, Hull was charged with organizing the defense on Saturday. Before each snap against the Boilermakers, Hull was responsible for calling the signals and getting his teammates lined up properly.
Post snap, Hull had to determine whether Purdue's Curtis Painter was going to pass or hand off, find the ball carrier and drag him down or drop into coverage.
Bradley was encouraged with the way Hull played. Bradley said the linebacker's progress this season reminded him of former Lion Paul Posluszny.
"Every game is a new learning experience and every offense we've played has been a little different. He's starting to get the hang of it and I know he's kind of stepped up front, run the show," Bradley said. "It's not an easy job and a lot of it might compare when Paul first went in there ... I think Josh will be the same way. He's smart, he's prideful, he works awful hard and he's a tough kid."
The defensive coordinator said he remembered Posluszny starting off slow early in his career. He had to adjust to the way different offenses operated, but soon was able to play more instinctively.
Despite playing in every game last year, Hull did not start and was on the field for only 292 snaps.
Joe Paterno called Hull "a good football player" and reiterated after the game that he thought "Hull was unfairly criticized."
Hull maintained after the game that none of the shots on his play affected him.
"I don't pay much attention to the media," Hull said. "Even if I did, it wouldn't have motivated me. I take it upon myself to motivate myself and my teammates ... I knew it was out there. I didn't pay any attention to it at all."
