Spring Football: A look at the safety position

Spring football is just days away for the Oklahoma Sooners. With the return of football on the way, Sooners Wire takes a look at each position group ahead of camp. This time we journey into the trenches with the offensive tackles.

Last season Oklahoma deployed the tackle duo of Adrian Ealy and Erik Swenson. After one game, Ealy and Swenson swapped sides putting the former at the right tackle spot. Ealy is now heading to the NFL through the draft meaning there would be at least one new starter on the offensive line, turned out there would be more.

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Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh will have a talented new left tackle as his starter when the season rolls around. Wayna Morris joins the Sooners after transferring from the University of Tennessee along with defensive back Key Lawrence and running back Eric Gray. Morris started 17 games over the first two years for the Vols at left tackle.

Wilkins returns to the team after opting out of the 2020 season. In 2019 he played in four games in a reserve role.

A season ago, Swenson became the starter at left tackle for 10 games and right tackle for just one. His performance against the Florida Gators in the Cotton Bowl Classic, Swenson earned a spot on the AP’s All-Bowl team. Now Swenson looks to lock down the right tackle position with the addition of Morris at left tackle.

Anton Harrison played 333 snaps at left tackle, much like the move for Swenson, Morris is forcing him to move to right tackle. This will be a battle to watch in the spring. Which tackle comes out on top and is named the starter for 2021? Sooners Wire gives Swenson the slight edge due to his starting experience.

Boston College conducted its first spring football practice Saturday morning and the Eagles are already excited about how it’s all going to end.

The ACC network announced on Thursday that it intends to broadcast nine of the league’s spring football games. BC’s annual Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Game at Alumni Stadium made the cut and will be aired April 24 at a time to be determined.

BC canceled the final 10 practice sessions and the intrasquad Maroon & Gold match last year when the campus shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m excited to have the chance to get it on TV and show people what we have,” said BC coach Jeff Hafley. “I’m still kind of hopeful we can get some people in the stands and create some excitement and see what we are all about.

“Just to give those guys a chance to maybe catch a glimpse of the future so I’m excited. Anytime we get the chance to let people see what we are doing is great and I’m looking forward to it.”

Hafley intentionally started the spring campaign a week late to allow strength and conditioning coach Phil Matusz additional time to fully implement his off-season conditioning regimen. Hafley also gave a shout out to the team’s doctors and trainers for their preventive efforts against COVID and off-season injuries.

“Just to give those guys a chance to maybe catch a glimpse of the future so I’m excited. Anytime we get the chance to let people see what we are doing is great and I’m looking forward to it.”

Hafley intentionally started the spring campaign a week late to allow strength and conditioning coach Phil Matusz additional time to fully implement his off-season conditioning regimen. Hafley also gave a shout out to the team’s doctors and trainers for their preventive efforts against COVID and off-season injuries.

The coach said he was so focused on getting the spring operation up and running that he’s hasn’t drawn up a format for the game. One of the scoring gimmicks from previous games was to award extra points for touchdowns scored from outside the red zone or the other side of midfield while allowing the key return men to switch sides on special teams.