Spring football capsules
This is the time of year when college football teams start plugging holes and finding replacements for players who have moved on.
Forget all that chatter about how important the practice time teams get before a bowl game is. Spring practice sets the tone and lays the foundation for the fall.
Here's a look at what's going on at some campuses over the next two months (teams listed in alphabetical order with last season's record in parentheses):Arizona State (10-3)
Practice starts: March 25.
Spring game: April 19.
Job openings: The Sun Devils have to replace TB Ryan Torain, and it might be the most important position in coach Dennis Erickson's run-first attack. Senior Keegan Herring, who rushed for 815 yards and five touchdowns a year ago, is the leading candidate heading into training camp, but junior Dimitri Nance may challenge for the job after running for 500 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
Boston College (11-3)
Practice starts: March 25.
Spring game: April 26.
Job openings: With the graduation of QB Matt Ryan, a likely top 10 NFL draft pick, the job is open to competition between Chris Crane, who was rarely tested as Matt Ryan's backup for three years, and junior Codi Boek, a transfer from Idaho State by way of American River Junior College in California. The Eagles also have no returning running backs, leaving the job open for competition between top-rated recruit Josh Haden, who is already enrolled in school and eligible to practice this spring, and incoming freshmen Jerry Kelly and Eric Reynolds.
Cincinnati (10-3)
Practice starts: March 25.
Spring game: April 26.
Job openings: The NCAA didn't grant QB Ben Mauk a sixth year of eligibility, leaving coach Brian Kelly to find a new leading man for his no-huddle, spread offense. He has several options including former Notre Dame quarterback Demetrius Jones, who enrolled last September and was released from his scholarship by the Fighting Irish, Dustin Grutza and Tony Pike. Mauk will be tough to replace. He passed for 31 touchdowns and 3,121 yards last season.
Colorado (6-7)
Practice starts: March 17.
Spring game: April 19.
Job openings: The Buffaloes backfield received a boost when prized recruit Darrell Scott chose them over Big 12 rival Texas. However, the tailback spot won't be just handed to Scott. Sophomores Demetrius Sumler and Brian Lockridge will also try to replace Hugh Charles, who ran for 2,659 yards. The other incoming tailback recruits, Ray Polk and Rodney Stewart, could be in the mix for carries as well. Colorado coach Dan Hawkins has said his preference is to rotate backs.
Connecticut (9-4)
Practice starts: March 18.
Spring game: April 19.
Job openings: Coach Randy Edsall is shuffling his defense, moving OLB Scott Lutrus inside, S Dahna Deleston to OLB, and turning LB Jarrell Miller into a defensive tackle. The wide receiver position appears wide open after Terrence Jeffers, who led the team last season with 582 receiving yards quit in the offseason. That leaves junior Brad Kanuch and former quarterback D.J. Hernandez, who will be a senior, as the experienced returnees.
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