Ben Belken, the ‘quarterback’ of UNI’s defense, eyes a healthy, productive 2024 season

CEDAR FALLS — While much of the attention will be on Northern Iowa’s quarterback competition headed into the 2024 football season, the Panthers defense has plenty of its own questions to answer before the Aug. 31 season-opener at home against Valparaiso.

Nine of 11 regular starters from last season departed by graduation or the transfer portal. But the one position UNI’s defense returns two starters is the position that includes the quarterback of the defense — linebacker.

Middle linebacker Ben Belken and outside linebacker Tucker Langenberg — who also played middle linebacker when Belken missed three games with an injury last season — are the two returning starters on Coach Mark Farley’s 2024 defense.

Understanding the importance of their roles as returning, experienced starters, Belken has led the defense in summer workouts in a similar fashion that quarterback Aidan Dunne has done with the offense — with more on-field work to go along with strength and conditioning.

“We’ve been going through our individual position group drills, getting together as a defense and at the end we do some 7-on-7 stuff with the offense,” Belken said. “It’s been huge for us getting the base (setup). Sometimes when you get back into it, it takes a few weeks to get back in the swing of things (and) get your feel back. I think it’s giving us a head start going into (preseason) camp.”

Added field work ought to be helpful for the start of preseason camp, but Belken hasn’t lost focus on the importance of strength and conditioning, describing extra sessions led by strength coach Jed Smith at a nearby beach that have shown results on the field.

“I started going to the sand runs two years ago and right away I noticed on the field (that I) felt quicker, felt faster,” Belken said. “Been doing those ever since and they’ve helped my game quite a bit.”

The senior from Eldridge is hoping for a healthy season as well, as his toughness has been on full display the past two years playing through ankle and shoulder injuries.

“I’m doing great. My health is great. Last season, that first game (against) Iowa State, I blew my AC and SC joints — nothing I couldn’t play through. Few weeks later I had an ankle problem,” Belken said. “Hoping this year I stay healthy. Watching (my) film and knowing what I’ve got to do, I’ve got to be a better tackler in open space.”

Belken’s role as the quarterback of the defense is critical.

When it comes to improving UNI’s defense that ranked eighth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference last season — allowing 26.6 points per game — he pointed out communication that starts with him.

“That’s the big thing — communication on the defensive side of the ball,” Belken said. “From the coaches to the players, being on the same page is how we’re going to live up to (the UNI) standard.

“If we’re all on the same page and we all know where we’re going, good things can happen and we’ll play fast.”