“I believe 100 percent in him,” captain Sean Ahern said. “He’s definitely ready.”

Similarly crucial is Ahern, a defensive back. He’s a fifth-year senior who plays like a fifth-year senior—calmly, quickly, and with physical dominance.

In the last two seasons, he has matched up against some of toughest opposing receivers and emerged both times as a member of the All-Ivy first team. Also a key special-teamer (he co-led the Ancient Eight with two blocked kicks last year), Ahern sets the temperament of the defense. He is the anchor, connecting Harvard to past seasons of defensive excellence.

“Sean’s a potential All-American,” Murphy said. “He’s one of the best corners we’ve ever had.”

Viviano and Ahern comprise two small parts of a larger team, one in which all players shoulder the duty of defending the Crimson’s dominion.

As a program, Harvard preaches a next-man-up philosophy—that no personnel loss is absolute because replacements always wait in the wings. Following the graduation of 15 starters and fourteen All-Ivy players, 2016 marks a test of this philosophy. The next man truly is up.

“Whatever our talent level is, that’s something we have no control over,” Murphy said. “But we can control what our character is. That’s what we hang our hat on.”

Last year, running back Paul Stanton Jr. capped off a historic career with an 809-yard season; this year rushers Semar Smith (junior), Charlie Booker (sophomore), and possibly others will share snaps. The by-committee approach worked against the Rams, as Harvard churned out 244 yards on the ground. But the deceptively physical Stanton will be missed when competing against Ivy League defensive lines.

Last year, the Crimson handled such defensive lines by trotting out senior offensive linemen Anthony Fabiano, Adam Redmond, and Cole Toner, all of whom signed NFL contracts at the end of the season; this year Harvard features less muscle and more youth upfront. While senior Max Rich and junior Larry Allen, Jr. provide some consistency, growing pains are inevitable.

A trio of seniors also staffed the linebacker unit during last year’s campaign, leading a defense that allowed a nation-low 84.4 rushing yards per contest; this year a number of fresh faces—especially juniors Luke Hutton and Chase Guillory—man the position. And the unit only got younger a week-and-a-half ago when senior Eric Ryan tore his meniscus, forcing the stalwart out of the lineup for the foreseeable future.

“We had a ton of huge parts of our defense graduate,” Ryan said. “A lot of young guys [are] filling the voids…. It’s been a huge preseason. We’ve been all in as a team.”

Amidst this roster transformation, it’s easy to overlook what remains the same. Two names stand out in particular: senior tight end Anthony Firkser and sophomore wideout Justice Shelton-Mosley.

Three of the Crimson’s last four tight ends have caught on as professional players, and Firkser has the potential to continue this trend. He’s a 230-pound race car with leather-soft hands.

Meanwhile, Shelton-Mosley is fast, period. Harvard freshmen rarely see significant game action, but last year the Sacramento, Ca. native totaled 1,140 yards and returned punts, including one for a score. Against Rhode Island, the game plan targeted Shelton-Mosley early and often, resulting in nine catches.

Both receiving threats eclipsed 100 yards that Friday night, perhaps prefiguring a season of a two-pronged aerial attack.