Mike Hull usually steps off the blue bus with his headphones packed away. He later bobs his head to something in the flavor of AC/DC's Thunderstruck before disappearing through the south tunnel.

He admitted Wednesday he nearly disappeared from campus for good when the sanctions struck. He was a coin-flip from stepping off a different bus for a different team.

"It was a tough decision. I was probably 50-50 the whole time," he said about transferring. "It took me a couple weeks to decide. But I'm a Penn State guy and once I made my decision, there was no looking back."

The 6-foot linebacker wouldn't respond to text messages in July. His family didn't return phone calls. Hull walked through a tunnel of fans during July's "Rise and Rally," a 6 a.m. pep rally held prior to a weight-lifting session, and deflected any questions about his status.

"Well, I'm here now," he said at the time, without elaborating.

The redshirt sophomore's decision to stay has reinforced the depth at linebacker -- and provided a needed spark. As the No. 4 backer, he's collected 13 tackles -- more than any starting lineman -- and recorded a sack.

He scooped up a fumble against Navy and bolted, untouched, for a 74-yard touchdown. It became a replay that was shown repeatedly around State College.

"He came in a little bit undersized for a linebacker," said Michael Mauti, who stands 6-2, 232 pounds. "He's not as big as a lot of us, but ... he's one of the strongest kids, pound for pound. He can run."

Former defensive coordinator Tom Bradley decided to try the longtime backer at safety two seasons ago because of that speed. At 215 pounds, Hull's slim physique better resembled some defensive backs -- but the switch didn't last long.

Hull said he ran a hand-timed 4.5 -- and a laser-timed 4.6 -- but he played more naturally at backer. He later became a mainstay at the weightroom during this past offseason and added about 13 pounds.

His biceps bulged after working with strength coach Craig Fitzgerald. His speed might have impressed Bradley, but his strength impressed his teammates. He bench-pressed a maximum of 405 pounds, the most out of more than 90 players on the roster. More than defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, who weighs nearly 100 pounds more. More than center Matt Stankiewitch, the most experienced player on the offense.

That blend of size and speed has made him into a solid backup, a special teams player and a favorite to take over as a starter next season.

"We've got a very strong linebacking corps, and we do try to get him in there and spell some of those guys that are ahead of him right now," Bill O'Brien said. "He's gone in there and played well. He's a tough guy. He's a Penn State linebacker."

Hull didn't wax poetic about his love of all things Penn State on Wednesday. He knew he had to wait his turn at linebacker and, for now, he plans to stay right here, step off that blue bus every home game and walk through that south tunnel.

"I chose to stay, and I'm not really looking back," he said. "There's no point in leaving now. I'm going to get my shot next year as a starter. Hopefully."