Spring Football: Boston College, Duke, Cincinnati and Miami

The Hokies don't begin spring practice until March 28, but other teams on their schedule have been pitching around the oblong. Here's a look at their opponents that are already popping pads.

Boston College

Start: Feb. 18
Game: March 31

Montel Harris re-aggravated his left knee injury after BC's first spring practice. He's being held out for the rest of spring, a move that seems more precautionary than anything.

The Eagles have a brand new offensive coaching staff, so getting the new system installed is the highest priority.

"The whole offense has completely changed and the guys are picking up the new system," said Rettig. "Everybody is buying into the system and that's the biggest thing. There is always a different terminology for many of the same principles. I think guys are trying to put the new terms and the plays together. Every play has a concept but with different names in every offense."

Chase Rettig returns at QB, but Josh Bordner is pushing him for the job.

How does BC replace all-everything Luke Kuechly? As Eagle in Atlanta put it, you really don't. However, Spaz is going to try out OLB Sean Duggan at MLB.

Duke

Start: Feb. 22
Game: March 31

The Blue Devils aren't pushovers, but they're not world beaters either. That's left their fans wanting more, and after back-to-back 3-9 seasons Duke's goal is to make a bowl game. Starting quarterback Sean Renfree is back for his third and final go around. However, like last season, redshirt sophomore Anthony Boone and/or Brandon Connette will spell Renfree and give Duke more a running option at QB.

"Those guys can be used," Cutcliffe said. "There's a strong chance you'll see Connette and Boone in the game at the same time some. We're going to try and be a little creative. I've always tried new things."

The Devil QBs are fortunate to have a veteran offensive line with four returning starters protecting them.

Moore, a fifth-year senior, is the anchor at center, while junior tackle Perry Simmons is a two-year starter. Junior Dave Harding has seen extensive action in two seasons, starting six games at center last year after Moore broke his arm in preseason. He'll team with Tomlinson at guard, where he has started seven games over the past two years. Sophomore Tacoby Cofield started the last two games a year ago at tackle.

Second team All-ACC receiver Conner Vernon is back, but will be limited. He's nursing an ankle injury from last season. He needs 35 receptions and 843 yards to be the ACC's all-time receiver in both categories.

The defense looks to be in good hands. Walt Canty and Kelby Brown, the team leaders in tackles (87) and tackles for loss (7), are back. And there's experience across the depth chart.

Joining Canty in the backfield is rising junior cornerback Ross Cockrell, who had 56 tackles, nine pass breakups and one interception last year, as well as rising redshirt senior cornerback Lee Butler, who received a medical redshirt in 2011 after missing the final eight games of the year. Duke's most seasoned player, Butler has appeared in 38 career games with 113 tackles, 12 pass breakups and three interceptions to his credit.

Rising senior linebacker Austin Gamble is back after starting 11 games last year and carding 43 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

Three starters along the line return in rising redshirt sophomore end Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo (17 tackles in 2011), rising redshirt junior end Justin Foxx (30 tackles) and rising redshirt junior tackle Sydney Sarmiento (32 tackles). Also back is rising redshirt senior end Kenny Anunike, who was among the ACC leaders in both sacks and tackles for loss before suffering a season-ending knee injury in week four.

The Devils will need to find a new starting kicker and punter as both Will Snyderwine and Alex King graduated.

Cincinnati

Start: March 1
Game: April 14

The Bearcats need to replace quarterback Zach Collaros, and it's a wide open competition.

"It's going to be wide open," Jones said. "Munchie has had a very good off-season but the individual who has quietly really shown great improvement is Brendon Kay."

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Legaux played in seven games last year, starting the last three in the regular season while Collaros was injured. He completed 55 of 116 passes for 749 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. He also rushed for 185 yards.

Kay, a 6-foot-4, 229-pound senior from Marine City, Mich., has been limited by knee injuries and has thrown only eight career passes. But Jones says he's healthy now and making a push to take advantage of his final season.

Cincinnati will also need to replace starting defensive tackles Derek Wolfe and John Hughes, that's rough. Down the Drive's post also discusses Cincy's defensive scheme and is quite insightful.

Big East offensive player of the year running back Isaiah Pead and linebacker/tackling machine (100+ tackles in three straight seasons) J.K. Schaffer both graduated.

Miami

Start: March 3
Game: April 14

Miami is back... on the practice field. (It's only March, but I can't resist bad Miami jokes.)

In addition to graduating seniors the Canes lost eight early entrants to the NFL. Miami will have to replace starters like Jacory Harris (QB), Lamar Miller (RB), Tommy Streeter (WR), Travis Benjamin (WR), Marcus Robinson (DE/OLB), Micanor Regis (DT) , Marcus Forston (DL), Sean Spence (LB) and JoJo Nicolas (S) with fresh faces. The 7th Floor has a nice breakdown of the Cane's spring depth chart, which has the hardest working players listed as starters. allCanes has a summary of a radio interview that highlights the efforts of Golden's culture change.

Stephen Morris, Memphis transfer Ryan Williams and freshmen Preston Dewey and Gray Crow are competing for the starting quarterback job. Morris who almost won the job over Jacory Harris last season, isn't participating in contact drills after back surgery.