Beavers open spring camp

For the players it’s a chance to break up the monotony of winter conditioning. For the coaches it’s a chance to develop their team from top to bottom. For the fans it’s a chance to scratch that football itch.

The start of 2007 football season is six months away, but preparations officially begin as the Men in Black start spring practice today. April features 15-practice sessions ending in the annual spring game Apr. 28 at Reser Stadium.

As usual, the quarterback position will be watched most closely as incumbent Sean Canfield tries to hold off Lyle Moevao. Left tackle will be hotly contested as junior Tavita Thompson and junior college transfer Michael Cole get a shot before more junior college help arrives in August.

Howard Croom, John Reese and Brady Camp will all receive plenty of repetitions at tight end as the coaches try and find two who will replace Joe Newton and Jason Vandiver.

Defensively the positions to watch are defensive tackle where Pernell Booth and Gerard Lee will compete for the starting position. Senior Coye Francies will push Brandon Hughes at cornerback while linebackers Keaton Kristick and Dwight Roberson both have opportunities to pass up veteran backups.

- Spring links -

Two Deeps | Roster | Spring Schedule | Spring Prospectus | Desktop Wallpaper | Message Boards | BF.com News Dashboard

- Spring wallpaper -

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- BF.com spring previews -

Special teams While the Beavers may have one of the top linebacking groups in the nation, OSU certainly has one of the best special teams units in the country. The squad loses just one person, gunner Sabby Piscitelli, while returning both kickoff returners, the kicker, both punt returners, and the punter ... read the article.

Linebackers Oregon State has a chance to solidify itself as the West Coast’s version of Linebacker U as the Beavers return all three starters from a year ago. Derrick Doggett, Alan Darlin and Joey LaRocque are back in black after combing for 257 tackles, including 33.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 2006 ... read the article.

Defensive Line It was just two years ago that the defensive line was one of the weakest positions in the program. But that weakness is now one of the team’s strengths. Despite losing two seniors the line returns two players who have combined for 38 starts and a host of players that saw plenty of game time a year ago ... read the article.

Secondary Another defensive position where Oregon State struggled with two years ago is now a strength as three of four starters return in the secondary. Head coach Mike Riley likes what he sees calling the secondary the best he has had during his tenure in Corvallis ... read the article.

Tight ends Sophomores John Reese and Howard Croom return after playing on special teams; Brady Camp in the mix with Gabe Miller still rehabbing ... read the article.

Wide receivers Post season honors candidate Sammie Stroughter returns along with the reliable Brandon Powers and a refocused Anthony Wheat-Brown ... read the article.

Running backs One of the top running backs in the nation, Yvenson Bernard, returns for his senior year as he looks to move up several lists in the OSU annuals. Clinton Polk, a year older and a year wiser, hopes to get more carries. Micah Strickland in the mix ... read the article.

Offensive line Four of five offensive line starters, including first team All-Pac-10 member Jeremy Perry, return from a line that helped the offense average 242 yards per game through the air and 118 yards on the ground ... read the article.

Quarterbacks Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao are set to compete for the starting spot in 2007. BF.com takes a look at the good, the bad, and the question heading into spring camp ... read the article.

- Roster updates -

Sitting out:

Offense	Defense
WR Casey Kjos - back surgery TE Gabe Miller - Achilles heel LG Jeremy Perry - knee WR Matt Sieverson - shoulder surgery	DE Jeff Van Orsow - ankle

First spring camp:

Offense	Defense
OT Michael Cole - junior college transfer, two to play two TE Joe Halahuni - enrolled in January, five to play four TE Carl Sommer - graduate early from high school	DT Siolei Nau - junior college transfer, three to play two LB Walker Vave - enrolled in January, five to play four

Left team:

Offense	Defense
RB Clinton Polk WR Zach Tarver	LS Aaron Carlson

Graduated:

Offense	Defense
OG Zach Harris WR Ruben Jackson LT Adam Koets OT Josh Linehan QB Matt Moore TE Joe Newton TE Jason Vandiver	CB Rickey Herod DE Joe Lemma CB Kellen Marshall SS Sabby Piscitelli DT Ben Siegert

Walk ons:

Offense	Defense
WR Damola Adeniji RB Andres Reed - junior college transfer, a walk on, two to play two	DL Evan Hull DL Brennan Olander LB Eric Rider DE Keith Robertson - junior college transfer, a walk on, two to play two

Position changes:

Offense	Defense
Mana Silva from quarterback to receiver Micah Strickland competing for backup tailback position, also plays fullback	Gerard Lawson from cornerback to safety (nickel back) Slade Norris from linebacker to defensive end

- Position battles -

Offense:

QB – Sean Canfield vs. Lyle Moevao
Matt Moore is gone, now it’s time to find his successor. Canfield has three years in the system while Moevao has one but experience in JUCO ball.

RB – Clinton Polk vs. Micah Strickland
Polk performed well, but was slowed by injuries at the end of the year. Strickland impressed during practice with the scout team.

LT – Tavita Thompson vs. Michael Cole
Thompson has been in the system for three years, its time to put up or shut up. Cole comes back home after playing for the very successful Fullerton Owls.

TE – Howard Croom vs. John Reese vs. Brady Camp
Croom and Reese played on special teams while Camp redshirted. The offense needs two for their doubhle tight end sets.

Defense:

CB – Brandon Hughes vs. Coye Francies
Hughes is young and still learning. Francies is a play maker and may be the best all-around corner on the team.

LB – Isaiah Cook/Dennis Christopher vs. Keaton Kristick/Dwight Roberson
Cook and Christopher are veteran backups with lots of experience on special teams. Kristick and Roberson are young, but play makers.

DT – Pernell Booth vs. Gerard Lee vs. Siolei Nau
Booth has experience. Lee started to come on at the end of the year and worked hard during winter conditioning. Nau is a junior college transfer who is looking to contribute early.

DE – Slade Norris vs. Victor Butler
Van Orsow is out. Norris and Butler are considered pass rushing specialists. Can one of them establish themselves as an every down player?

- From the prospectus -

STARTERS RETURNING: Oregon State has 17 starters returning, 18 counting receiver Anthony Wheat-Brown who missed the last four games of the 2006 season. The Beaver returning roster accounts for 336 combined starts.

BOWL TEAMS: Seven of Oregon State’s 12 regular season games are against 2006 bowl participants, including four of the first five contests. The team opens the season hosting 2006 Armed Forces Bowl champion Utah before traveling to the University of Cincinnati, the inaugural International Bowl champions.

SPEAKING OF BOWLS: Oregon State enters the 2007 season in quest of its fifth bowl trip in six years. The Beavers are 3-0 under head coach Mike Riley in postseason games, and during his collegiate coaching career Riley is 6-0 in bowl games – 3-0 at USC as the offensive coordinator.

A RARE VISIT: The Beavers entertain Pac-10 brethren UCLA and Washington for the first time in several seasons. The Bruins haven’t ventured to Corvallis since 2002 while the Huskies haven’t since 2003. OSU’s only loss in its final nine games of last season was at UCLA while it has won the last three seasons at Husky Stadium.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: Oregon State ended the 2006 season No. 21 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 22 in the USA Today Poll. The Beavers also finished No. 22 in the Bowl Championship Series standings. The AP and USA Today final rankings marked the first time OSU has been included since 2000.

RESER MAKEOVER: Prior to the 2005 season Oregon State completely rebuilt the east side of the stadium to include some of the finest amenities in all of college and NFL football. Prior to the 2007 season the south endzone section will be completely rebuilt to raise capacity to approximately 46,000.

10-WIN SEASON: Oregon State is coming off a 10-4 season, the second-best mark in the program’s history. Included in the win total was snapping then No. 3 USC’s 27-game Pac-10 win streak, defeating No. 24 Hawai’i at Aloha Stadium and beating arch-rival Oregon.

RECENT SUCCESS: Over the last five seasons Oregon State has won 38 games, the third-highest number in the Pac-10 trailing only USC and California. The Beavers have had only one losing campaign over that stretch and have played in four bowl games.

UTAH’S AND IDAHO STATE’S CHALLENGE: Oregon State has won 22 consecutive non-conference home games, including 13-0 with Mike Riley at helm. One of the stiffer challenges in that streak will take place in the season opener, Thurs., Aug. 30 vs. the Utah Utes.