Time to practice

For once, University of Northern Colorado head football coach Scott Downing will see a lot of familiar faces when he walks onto the field for the start of spring practices today.

For the first time in Downing's three-year tenure as head coach, his coaching staff remains relatively intact as the team enters spring ball.

So does his roster.

The Bears return 43 letterwinners from last season's squad with seven starters returning on each side of the ball.

It will make this spring a lot easier on Downing and his players. No new systems to learn. No new schemes to figure out.

"So I think the players will like that because it is continuity," Downing said.

Still, there are questions to be answered as spring begins, none more pressing than at quarterback. At that spot, the Bears have what Downing called "a totally open competition" among the four candidates on the roster to replace last year's starter, Dominic Breazeale.

Based on his grades during offseason workouts, redshirt sophomore James Schrenk will enter spring as the No. 1 quarterback and work with the first unit.

Schrenk, a former Northridge standout, has impressed offensive coordinator Dennis Darnell with work ethic.

"He's earned it with his offseason work, but not just with his offseason work," Darnell said. "He's worked his tail off ever since I've been here."

However, Schrenk is expected to face stiff competition from senior Mike Vlahogeorge, who started a portion of last season, and from University of Florida transfer Bryan Waggener. Redshirt freshman Dylan Orms is also in the mix.

Darnell said he'd like to have a starter "nailed down" by the end of the spring, but Downing isn't concerned if it takes longer.

"You'd like to have your quarterback decided by the end of spring ball, but who knows. If it goes into fall camp, so be it," Downing said.

On the defensive side, the Bears biggest question mark will be the line, where the Bears must replace three starters from a season ago.

Tackles Vinny Pallone and Ben Sibert completed their eligibility and leave a big void in the middle, and starting defensive end Joe Silipo is transferring to pursue playing for a Football Bowl Subdivision program. Silipo was second on the team in sacks (3.5) and tackles for losses a year ago (7.0).

"But we move on," Downing said. "We've got some young guys and that now gives them an opportunity."

Even with the losses, UNC defensive coordinator Cody Deti said he believes the Bears are better off than a year ago at this time when they were running scrimmages with only five healthy defensive lineman. Now they are at least two deep at each position.

"There are some guys that played some snaps in there last year for us, but then there are a lot of guys that never took a snap for us since they have been here," Deti said. "So that group is going to be real critical in the way they develop throughout the course of the spring."

NOTES

O-line shuffle: Although the offensive line only lost center Jake Gable, who was a senior, Darnell is doing some shuffling during the spring that will give the line a new look. He's moving tackle Jacob Thornbrue to guard and guard Ryan Kemp to tackle. Guard Chris Jones will replace Gable at center but will likely move back to guard during the fall. That's when Tim McGraw, who is injured, or sophomore Alex Shapiro are expected to be starting at center.

Not hurting badly: The Bears have injuries entering spring ball, but they are minimal. Linebacker Joe Kenney will not participate in contact drills as he recovers from shoulder surgery at the end of last season. McGraw, cornerback Korey Askew and wide receiver Alex Clark will all miss spring ball recovering from various knee injuries.

Schedule: Practices during the spring will run from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Butler-Hancock practice fields until the April 19 spring game. The April 4 practice will be held at Littleton High School with the time to be determined. Spring ball will conclude Blue and Gold scrimmage at 11 a.m. April 19 at Nottingham Field.

Source: Matt Schuman