By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

Josh Betts wasn't the only Miami football player stepping into big shoes for the 2004 season.

While Betts faced scrutiny as the replacement for record-setting, third-team All-America quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, fourth-year junior Derek Rehage faced the task of taking over at middle linebacker for Terrell Jones, the starter since the fourth game of his freshman season.

"Terrell was, by far, our leader," said Rehage, an East Central (Ind.) product. "I felt pressure to come in and be a leader, but other guys have stepped up and become leaders, and I've been able to take a back seat."

Rehage hasn't backed off so much that he's shirking his duty as the quarterback of the defense.

He ranks fourth on the team with 37 tackles, and he earned a game ball after leading the RedHawks with nine tackles in their 25-7 win at Buffalo last Saturday.

Rehage was recruited as a fullback, a position that became extinct when Miami switched to the spread offense.

He was moved to linebacker and gained valuable experience in the spring of his freshman year when he worked with the starters while Jones was injured.

"Terrell was really good last year helping me learn the position," Rehage said. "He would talk to me about becoming a starter and how he did it. He let me learn through his experience."

Hoeppner said the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Rehage is making progress.

"Derek's got a lot of responsibility at middle linebacker," Hoeppner said. "You have a bunch of guys out there who need his direction on every play. He makes a call on every play.

"There's a mental burden if you're the quarterback of the defense."