Beaver football announces spring practice schedule

Who is going to replace Curtis Coker, Gerard Lee, Jeff Van Orsow and Dorian Smith among others on the defensive line? Who will replace standouts Roy Schuening and Kyle DeVan on the offensive line? Is there another Yvenson Bernard in the program, and what about Alexis Serna's replacement? Some of those questions will be answered when the annual spring football practice session opens March 31 at the Tommy Prothro Football Complex or the Merritt Truax Indoor Center.

A total of 45 lettermen from the 2007 team expect to return for this season, and most of them will be participating in one of the most crucial spring practice sessions for the program in years. Junior quarterback Sean Canfield and senior defensive tackle Pernnell Booth are expected to miss spring drills while rehabilitating from injuries.

The return of senior receiver Sammie Stroughter is also much anticipated; his status will be determined this month by Pac-10 Conference officials. OSU is seeking a redshirt year for 2007 after the '06 All-American suffered a kidney injury in game four of last season. He played a total of three contests.

The 15 days of drills culminate with the annual Spring Game at Reser Stadium May 3, the last of the spring scrimmages for any Football Bowl Subdivision program.

Fans who can't attend the game can listen live on KPAM 860-AM. Further details on promotions around the Spring Game will be announced in the near future.

Spring practices are always open to the public, but Beaver football personnel remind fans to please view from designated bleachers at the Prothro Complex or from the sidelines at the Truax Center.

The Beavers have played in seven bowl games in the last nine years and have finished third in the Pac-10 in back-to-back seasons. The team is facing one of the most difficult schedules in school history this fall, beginning Aug. 28 at Stanford.

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