Matt Tau’fo’ou has overtaken Jeremiah George for the starting spot at middle linebacker, defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said last Thursday.

Burnham, who also coaches linebackers, said Tau’fo’ou’s production at last Wednesday’s scrimmage has earned him the spot.

“Not only did he grade out, he had a lot more production,” Burnham said of Tau’fo’ou’s performance. “He had some tackles for losses, which linebackers have got to have, he had some real good hits on some wide plays, he ran some people down and of course he got his reads and everything quickly.”

Tau’fo’ou garnered the starting spot at middle linebacker last season before sustaining a broken fibula in the Cyclones’ 35-7 loss to Iowa in Iowa City. He played in just five games last season with two starts, finishing with 20 tackles.

Another position that has fostered a battle for the starting spot is right defensive end, with junior Roosevelt Maggitt leapfrogging former two-year starter Patrick Neal for the spot.

Maggitt, however, said he is not concerned with his position on the depth chart.

“If Pat starts, he starts. If I start, I start,” Maggitt said. “I’m focusing on practicing every day hard, going 100 percent and just getting better every day and focusing on the team.”

Maggitt played all 12 games last season and, despite having only one start to Neal’s seven starts, recorded one more tackle than Neal on the season with 30 total.

The experience that both Maggitt and Neal have will be integral to adding depth for the defensive line.

“I think it would be substantial because me, Pat and [Jacob Lattimer], we all play real hard,” Maggitt said of the rotation. “We’ve got enough experience under our belt to make plays and we’ve all become a lot stronger and smarter, we should do good.”

Lattimer, who is slated to start opposite Maggitt at left end, had 39 tackles last season while also recording a team-high four sacks for 37 total yards lost.

Keeping at least eight players in the rotation at defensive line will help ensure that the defense will stay fresh and keep substantial pressure on opposing quarterbacks, an aspect that had been lacking in years past.

“They take a beating every snap whether it be run or pass or whatever,” Burnham said. “You’re pushing on a 300-pound offensive lineman, it takes a lot of energy, it takes a lot out of you. So if you don’t have some type of eight-man rotation, then you’re going to be in trouble.”