Now that it’s his turn to serve in a full-time starting role, his job is simple - just replace last year’s NCAA Division III national defensive player of the year.

Salinas will make his second straight start and seventh of his college career when the third-ranked Crusaders (1-0) host Texas Lutheran (1-1) in an ASC opener at 6 p.m. Saturday at Tiger Field.

And even though the task of replacing Jerrell Freeman - the school’s career tackles leader and the first UMHB player to sign an NFL contract - might seem daunting to some, Salinas takes it in stride.

It isn’t that he’s unaware of the task.

“I have to step up and fill his shoes, and those are some big shoes to fill,” he said.

It’s just that in an unassuming way, Salinas is supremely confident in his abilities.

“Guys graduate and other guys fill in all the time,” the former four-sport high school standout at Wharton said. “As far as pressure, I really don’t feel any. I’ve been doing this so long that I’m comfortable. It’s my time now. Jerrell’s Jerrell, and I’m me.”

His words and actions are such that it’s difficult to argue with Salinas. He has, as he said, been doing this a long time. A two-way starter most of his life, he’s only played one defensive position.

“I’ve played linebacker all my life, even when I was little,” said the 6-foot, 215-pound junior, who tends to break into an embarrassed grin when talking about himself. “When I was a kid, I played both ways. I used to be a quarterback on offense, then a linebacker on defense.

“And I always started. I was never really a backup.”

That changed when he arrived at UMHB as a freshman in 2006. He appeared in all 13 games that season at middle linebacker but started only three and finished with 35 tackles.

As a sophomore, he played in all 14 games last year and started two at strongside linebacker, ranking fifth on the team with 51 stops.

Barring injury, Salinas should start every game this season at weakside linebacker - a testament to his versatility.

“We started him (on the strong side) a couple of games last year to help out against the run,” UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg said. “We really liked the way he played there, so our original plan was to leave him.

“But now we think we’re stronger with him (on the weak side). Really, he could play any number of positions.”

Truth be told, Salinas doesn’t favor one spot over another.

“I just feel comfortable being on the field,” he said, evidenced by his team-high nine tackles in the season-opening win over Southern Nazarene (Okla.). “It really doesn’t matter where I’m at.

“I liked it (on the strong side), being on the outside and forcing everything back in. And I like where I’m at now, being more on the inside. I’m a physical guy and like being in the middle of everything.”

According to the Crusaders’ media guide, Salinas has grown an inch and put on five pounds since last season. He hasn’t, however, lost a step of his quickness.

“I worked out more over the summer than I ever had,” he admitted. “I ran a lot more and pushed myself a lot more. There were times when I thought, ‘That’s all I’m going to do.’ Then I would run a little more, take a break, and then run some more.

“Football is all about being able to figure out what’s going on quickly in a fast environment. I can do that, then I go find the ball.”

And that is a statement of fact rather than a boast. Even if it does make him blush.

edrennan@temple-telegram.com