Practice report (8-21-09)

With Wort out, and Balogun’s status in limbo, this is how I see the LB depth chart heading into the Sept. 5 opener with BYU:
Middle
4;Ryan Reynolds;6-1;225;Sr.
*10;Mike Balogun;6-0;247;Sr.
12;Austin Box;6-2;220;So.
56;Ronnell Lewis;6-2;232;Fr.

Weak-side
28;Travis Lewis;6-2;232;So.
12;Austin Box;6-2;220;So.
55;Jaydan Bird;6-1;227;Fr.

Strong-side
22;Keenan Clayton;6-2;221;Sr.
31;Daniel Franklin;6-2;219;RFr.
21;J.R. Bryant;6-2;225;Sr.

* Eligibility currently being questioned by the NCAA

Other notes from practice:

* D-coordinator Brent Venables said there’s no way that Brandon Crow moves back to LB from fullback. Crow is currently working behind Matt Clapp on the depth chart there. Said Venables: “He’s doing a good job over there.”

* Venables also explained why JR Bryant has played so little this fall.

“He’s still working his way back. He didn’t come back at a point we would have liked him to be at. So he’s still trying to work his way back.”

* Venables has been really pleased with his young DBs.

“We feel like we have a identified a couple of young guys, which has been talked about, in Marcus Trice and Demontre Hurst. They will both play and play in significant situations. They’re very instinctual and good football players. And they are not physically overwhelmed. So, those two guys are helping us with some depth and Marcus can play the nickel and be a safety as well. He can do a number of different things.