PHILADELPHIA - Not much prepares a program for the loss of one of its best. A four-year starter and the first three-time captain in team history, replacing center Kyle Friend stood easily as one of the offense's most important tasks entering this spring.
Enter redshirt senior Brendan McGowan. Or, more accurately, meet the student-athlete groomed to take over for the NFL-bound Friend, who himself is beyond convinced his back-up is prepared, both mentally and physically, to serve at center.
"I can't say enough good things about [McGowan]," Friend said. "He's just a guy that just shuts up, does what he has to do, and he doesn't complain.