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Detroit Lions linebacker Kyle Van Noy has high expectations for his second season after an abdominal injury hindered him throughout his rookie year.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

DEARBORN -- If it's all the same to you, Detroit Lions linebacker Kyle Van Noy is going to hit the reset button on his young NFL career.

A second-round draft pick in 2014, Van Noy's rookie season was derailed by a sports hernia, which knocked him from the lineup the first eight games and prevented him from finding a consistent role even once he returned to action.

For a guy who didn't miss a game in college, appearing in all 52 contests in his four years at BYU, Van Noy couldn't imagine a more frustrating start to his professional career.

"It's unfortunate how last year went," he said Friday before a charity softball game hosted by teammates Stephen Tulloch and Golden Tate. "I know a lot of people were disappointed, but nobody was more disappointed than myself."

Looking to create the feel of a clean slate, Van Noy switched uniform numbers -- dropping the No. 95 he never embraced for 53, a more traditional linebacker jersey. He also shaved off the bushy beard he grew out his first year in Detroit.

"I think that was the biggest thing for me was to get a fresh start," he said. "I changed the number, a new look, playing a couple different positions. It's just a new feel."

He won't elaborate on the specifics, but Van Noy admits he's still not quite 100 percent, but he's in good enough shape to be fully participating in Detroit's organized team activity practices. He's even been working with the first-team defense, rotating at the strongside and weakside linebacking positions, while veterans DeAndre Levy and Tulloch are held out as a precautionary measure.

"To have them have to sit back and watch me for once, not the other way around, it's funny," Van Noy said with a smile. "We joke about it, but for the experience, to have them on the sidelines as extra coaches is a blessing for me. They're great players and that's what I want to be is a great player."

At BYU, Van Noy was a great player. He stuffed the stat sheet for the Cougars, including 63 tackles for a loss, 26 sacks, seven interceptions and 11 forced fumbles.

The Lions liked him enough to trade up in the second round to secure his services, hoping the well-rounded, play-making skill set would translate to the professional level.

It never got a chance to develop last season. But it's a new year, another chance to make an impression, and Van Noy isn't tempering personal expectations for 2015 because of the rocky start.

"They're personal goals, but they're high," he said.

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