For those looking for free entertainment, Spaulding Field will
feature a dogfight for the next four weeks.
While the competition is always open at spring football, with a
new coaching staff, the fight becomes critical for all the
players.
“Spring ball is a breath of fresh air,” senior
tailback Akil Harris said. “It is a fair
opportunity.”
The hottest competitions to watch should be at quarterback,
middle linebacker and corner.
Sophomores Drew Olson and Matt Moore saw similar experience in
the pocket as true freshmen last season. Redshirt sophomore John
Sciarra will also compete for playing time. However, head coach
Karl Dorrell does not anticipate naming a starter until fall
camp.
Although Olson served as the backup to starter Cory Paus for the
first half of the season, both Paus and Olson went down with
injuries against Cal on Oct. 19. Moore’s redshirt year had to
be burned the following week.
“All four are at the same level at the starting line,
we’ll see who finishes first,” said senior wide
receiver Tab Perry, who added that walk-on sophomore Brian Callahan
is the hardest working quarterback he has seen.
Olson finished the season 53 of 104 for 702 yards while Moore
completed 33 of 62 passes for 412 yards. Of course, statistics will
mean nothing today when the quarterbacks must show what
they’ve got to their new coaches.
“We don’t run any part of what was run here in the
past,” said Dorrell, who has chosen not to watch last
season’s game film.
Little will change at tailback where sophomore Tyler Ebell split
duties with junior tailback/fullback Manuel White and with senior
Akil Harris, who has a chance to get back in the rotation after
falling off the map with the last staff. Sophomore Wendell Mathis
will also be in the mix.
When White works at fullback, he will be joined by sophomore
J.D. Groves and junior Pat Norton, as he was last season.
With the departure of All-Pac-10 tight end Mike Seidman,
sophomores Keith Carter and Marcedes Lewis will compete for the
starting position. While Carter has a bit more experience, Lewis
was dubbed the “jewel” of last year’s recruiting
class.
Wide receiver looks relatively unchanged with junior Craig Bragg
and Perry starting and sophomore Junior Taylor as the third
option.
The offensive line is an area of concern, although junior guards
Eyoseph Efseaff and Steve Vieira and sophomore center Mike
McCloskey return. Vieira could move to tackle if senior Shane
Lehmann performs well at guard. Otherwise, junior Paul Mociler and
sophomore Ed Blanton are competing to start at guard.
On defense, the new staff has fans salivating over a Tampa Bay
Buccaneer-style attacking system.
“Do we have Simeon Rice? No. But we have two excellent
players in the Ball twins, we have good linebackers and a young,
talented secondary with a chance to flourish,” Dorrell
said.
The Bruins were fortunate to keep junior defensive tackle Rodney
Leisle from entering the NFL early.
“The middle linebacker spot is open,” said Dorrell
with a chuckle. That was about all he could say about the status of
the position vacated by Marcus Reese, but he and the staff will
look at senior Dennis Link, sophomore Justin London and junior Tim
Warfield.
Whoever fills the spot will be flanked by senior strongside
linebacker Brandon Chillar and sophomore weakside linebacker
Spencer Havner.
In the secondary, three starters return: junior free safety Ben
Emanuel, sophomore strong safety Jarrad Page and junior Matt Ware,
who will stay at corner.
The greatest challenge will be replacing three-time All-Pac-10
corner Ricky Manning. The competition should be fierce between
senior Keith Short, junior Matt Clark, sophomores Glenn Ohaeri and
Marcus Cassel, and redshirt freshman Jebiaus Brown.
“They are no idiots,” Dorrell said of his
players’ reaction to the competition. “They want to
play the best players.”
Football spring practice is open to the public and will be held
from approximately 4 to 6 p.m each day.