Editor's note:  This is the final installment of 10 features that highlight a group or position of the 2010 Mercyhurst College football team.

Linebackers
The heart of the Mercyhurst defense lies with the linebackers thanks to the experience and leadership shown by a talented pair of seniors and a rising junior. Two-time All-PSAC West selection and CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honoree Bryan Boyce headlines the trio from his spot at outside linebacker. First-team All-PSAC West last season, Tim Herbener returns from a breakout year in 2009 as the middle linebacker quarterbacking the defense while at the Sam linebacker is junior Kevin Williams, a second-year starter who coaches hope can put together his own breakout season. 

Keeping the unit healthy is a primary concern as Boyce missed all of 2007 and a handful of games in 2009 with an injury while Herbener missed the entire 2008 season with an injury. 

Boyce, who has finished in the team's top 10 tacklers every season, is arguably the Lakers' best player on the field. His continued leadership and ability will paramount to the corps' success. Behind Boyce is Garrett McEwen, a senior who has played in just 10 games in his three-year career, including seven as a freshman in 2007. 

Boyce started final eight games of the 2009 season after missing first three with an injury but still ranked seventh on squad with 41 stops (29 solo) and finished third in tackles for loss (7- -32 yards) and sacks (2.5- -19 yards).  He helped the Lakers to the league's fourth-best rushing defense, allowing just 118.5 yards per game while posting a tackle in every game, including his season-high of 11 stops in a 17-16 loss at Slippery Rock.

He currently ranks tied for 19th all-time in Mercyhurst history with 211 total tackles and 13th with 28 tackles for loss.  Also, he can move into the top 10 for sacks as he owns 9.5 for his career.

For Herbener, he is now playing to his size and ability after his breakout season last year. He stepped in for an injured senior a season ago and took off, playing at a higher level of speed and with more intensity. Laimere Latson sits behind Herbener on the preseason depth chart.

Herbener is tied for 29th all-time on the Lakers all-time tackle list (180) and could break into the top 10 in tackles for loss and sacks.  He started all 11 games for the Lakers and led the team in tackles with 87 (55 solo) while also leading the squad in tackles for loss, posting 16 for -60 yards, including a team-best 6.5 sacks for -41 yards.  Herbener tied for second in interceptions with two and fumble recoveries with one.  All over the field, he posted 10 or stops on three different occasions (Wayne State, Bloomsburg, Clarion) while adding four or more tackles in every game and had a tackle for loss in every game but two and a sack in every game but four.  All told, he helped guide Mercyhurst to be one of the best defenses in the PSAC, finishing the regular season as the fourth-best rushing defense (118.5 yards per game). 

Williams is arguably the most athletic of the three starters, but will be expected to increase his knowledge of the position to take his play to the next level. Transfer Nick Jackson will push Williams for action, but needs to increase his discipline and knowledge of the Lakers' system before earning playing time. 

Williams finished the season ranked fourth on the squad with 51 total tackles and also added 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.  He posted at least three tackles in every game but one while recording a personal-best eight stops against Wayne State and then-ranked No. 5 Bloomsburg