Safety Drew Astorino admits he’s not outspoken.

Instead, the redshirt junior is more of the leader-by-example type – a characteristic his teammates have noticed.

“He can hit,” redshirt junior linebacker Nate Stupar said in the spring. “He’ll come at you hard.”

The hard-hitting Astorino is now healthy after a January surgery on his left shoulder to heal a torn labrum, which forced him to sit out spring practice.

Astorino yearned to play full throttle on the field, which is why he played with his injured shoulder last season, including returning punts.

While battling the injury, Astorino started 12 of the team’s 13 games. On a team that has yet to decide its captains, Astorino and his 62 tackles from last season are the most by a returning player. Astorino sticks out as a possible captain, though he isn’t the vocal leader the coaching staff may be looking for.

Though quiet, Astorino believes he can be the leader of the defense. The redshirt junior headlines an experienced defensive backfield with three other returning starters.

Only participating in non-contact drills, Astorino was relegated to a sideline role in the spring.

“I couldn’t tell you how bad it was to sit out during spring practice and just sit there,” Astorino said. “It’s the worst experience ever. You want to be out there. You want to be with your teammates.”

Astorino, who said his time out in the spring gave him a chance to help the younger defensive backs, described being back on the field as “phenomenal.”

He’s happy to be leading by example and working hard, though some teammates may be cringing from his hits.

“Just playing football,” Astorino said, “it feels really good.”