Some Players Return as Starters

The 10 players who served two-game suspensions for their roles in the handicapped-parking scam--not counting Marques Anderson, who was later dismissed from school until January--returned to practice Monday, some as immediate starters.

The biggest infusion came to the defense, where Ryan Roques was made the No. 1 strong safety, and Ryan Nece, Tony White and Robert Thomas became starting linebackers in a complete turnover. Ali Abdul Azziz is listed as White’s backup on the outside while Eric Whitfield is second on the depth chart at free safety, behind Joey Strycula, who has starred after taking advantage of the manpower shortage the first two games.

Help for the offense comes where it’s most needed: the offensive line. Oscar Cabrera returns to his 1998 job of starting left guard and James Ghezzi again becomes a valuable and versatile reserve, able to play tackle and guard. But the end of their football-related disciplines came with the loss of starting right guard Mike Saffer for two to four weeks because of a sprained ankle suffered against Ohio State.

The other major boost for the offense comes at fullback, where Durell Price got his starting job back, a reality check for Matt Stanley, the fill-in there who scored a touchdown and was given a scholarship two days earlier. Keith Brown returned as the No. 3 tailback, but one who will play as Coach Bob Toledo tries to lessen the work load for DeShaun Foster.

Other lineup changes came Monday unrelated to the mass returns. Freshman Ricky Manning Jr. was named the starter at right cornerback, a promotion that would have come even without Bell’s injury. The only difference now is that Joe Hunter remains No. 1 at left cornerback instead of becoming the backup and giving way for Bell to slide over.

And Gabe Crecion becomes the starting tight end again in what may become a season-long rotation with Bryan Fletcher for the top job. Fletcher was in the opening lineup at Ohio State.

The additions came with subtractions: Saffer’s injury is a blow, starting cornerback Jason Bell will likely miss Saturday night against Fresno State because of continued problems with his right heel and reserve linebacker Billy Pieper is expected to miss two to four weeks because of a sprained knee ligament.