Preseason Positional Battles

As college football practice opens around the country this weekend, here's a look at 10 of the fiercest competitions during preseason practice:

Norman, Okla.: Quarterbacks Rhett Bomar vs. Tommy Grady vs. Paul Thompson
Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops hasn't settled on a replacement for 2003 Heisman Trophy winner Jason White, and none of the three candidates distanced himself from the others during spring practice. The smart money might be on Bomar, the nation's most heralded quarterback as a senior at Grand Prairie (Texas) High School in 2003. Then again, whoever hands off the ball off best to Adrian Peterson might win the job.

Columbia, S.C.: Steve Spurrier vs. Reality
The former Washington Redskins coach is just beginning to realize what he got himself into. South Carolina opens the season Sept. 1 against Central Florida in a nationally televised game. Before then, Spurrier must find a starting quarterback, running back, a couple of receivers, two new starters on the offensive line and an entirely new defensive line. The Gamecocks then open their SEC schedule against Georgia, Alabama and Auburn, which could all be ranked in the preseason top 25.

Tallahassee, Fla.: Xavier Lee vs. Drew Weatherford
Florida State suddenly has a quarterback battle after the Seminoles lost starter Wyatt Sexton for the season because of Lyme disease. Weatherford is a more polished passer but is coming back from offseason ankle surgery. Lee broke most of Florida's high school passing records and reminds some FSU coaches of 1993 Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward because of his athleticism.

Ann Arbor, Mich.: Grant Mason vs. Charles Stewart
The Michigan cornerbacks will battle throughout preseason camp to replace all-American Marlin Jackson, a first-round draft choice of the Indianapolis Colts. The Wolverines, who should have a high-powered offense, must also replace all-Big Ten strong safety Ernest Shazor and two linebackers. Then again, the Wolverines allowed an average of 34.3 points in its three losses last season, so perhaps change is good on the defensive side of the ball.

Athens, Ga.: Thomas Brown vs. Kregg Lumpkin vs. Danny Ware
Georgia Coach Mark Richt has a problem a lot of coaches would love to have: He has too many running backs. When Lumpkin tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during preseason practice last year, the Bulldogs turned to freshmen Brown and Ware. They combined to run for nearly 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns during Georgia's 10-2 season. After losing quarterback David Greene and two receivers to the NFL, Richt could need production from all his runners this year.

University Park, Pa.: Joe Paterno vs. Time
The legendary Nittany Lions coach begins his 40th season at Penn State and might have enough talent to reverse a stretch of four losing records in five seasons. Ten starters are back from a defense that ranked among the 10 best in the country in 2004, and freshmen Derrick Williams of Greenbelt and Justin King are being counted on to bring life to the Nittany Lions' sluggish offense. If quarterback Michael Robinson plays well, and junior Tony Scott of Alexandria runs the football with authority, Penn State could be 5-0 entering an Oct. 8 showdown in Beaver Stadium against Ohio State.

Auburn, Ala.: Tre Smith vs. Kenny Irons
They're the leading candidates to replace Tigers running backs Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and Ronnie Brown, whose hefty production helped lead Auburn to a 13-0 record last season. Smith, who carried only twice last season, will miss the start of preseason camp after undergoing an emergency appendectomy last week. Irons sat out last season after transferring from South Carolina. Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville must also find replacements for quarterback Jason Campbell and cornerback Carlos Rogers, both Washington Redskins.

South Bend, Ind.: Charlie Weis vs. the Echoes
Can Notre Dame's new coach really restore the Fighting Irish? The former New England Patriots offensive coordinator is talking tough, but with a schedule that includes seven teams that played in bowl games last season, including Bowl Championship Series participants Pittsburgh, Michigan, Southern California and Tennessee, the Irish's record might not get much better than last year's 6-6 mark. Weis must find two new linebackers and three defensive backs for a defense that finished next-to-last in Division I-A in pass defense in 2004.

Lincoln, Neb.: Zac Taylor vs. Harrison Beck
Taylor's arrival from Butler (Kan.) County Community College caused Nebraska starting quarterback Joe Dailey to transfer to North Carolina. Taylor, who played at Wake Forest in 2003, all but locked down the Cornhuskers' starting job during the spring. But Coach Bill Callahan is very impressed with Beck, an incoming freshman who turned down scholarship offers from Florida, Florida State and Miami to run Nebraska's West Coast offense. Callahan already is under pressure after finishing 5-6 last season.

Berkeley, Calif.: Joseph Ayoob vs. Nathan Longshore
Ayoob, a highly regarded transfer from City College of San Francisco, is the leading candidate to replace California quarterback Aaron Rogers, a first-round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers. But Ayoob struggled to learn college football's most complicated offense during spring practice. Redshirt freshman Nathan Longshore signaled plays into Rogers last season, so at least he knows Coach Jeff Tedford's complex formations and terminology. But Longshore lacks Ayoob's arm strength and athleticism.