Nothing like previewing tomorrow’s stories tonight by peeking at the transcript from Coach Wannstedt’s post-practice presser. This morning the story was that Tommie Campbell was not quite ready to be a starter at Linebacker. This evening…

On the linebackers:

Right now we’ve got three linebackers. (Tommie) Campbell, (H.B.) Blades and (Clint) Session. Then in my mind, everybody else is competing.

We’re trying to figure out who the fourth and fifth linebacker is at this point.

We have two more scrimmages, one this weekend and one next week and that will help in our evaluation process but it’s going good.

That means that Campbell is now a starter over Derron Thomas and Brian Bennett. Whether that will remain, or even if that’s to send a message to Thomas and Bennett that just because they are upper-classmen (redshirt junior and senior) they can’t expect to be starters, is something of a question mark in my mind.

Also being pushed is Connor Lee for the field goal kicking duties. Unfortunately, David Abdul’s name wasn’t mentioned.

On the progress of the kickers:

We have two field goal kickers, (Dan) Hutchins and Lucas Stone. Both those kids have been kicking well. One kick was a 47-yarder. I don’t know what the other one was. I was real pleased the way our kicking game has been progressing. With Adam (Graessle) punting the ball, he’s had a great camp and the field goal kickers are pretty consistent, so that’s all good.

On the possibility of using Adam Graessle as a field goal kicker:

Sure, we would use him if he’s the best guy, which right now I don’t know.

Dorin Dickerson is practicing at tailback, not wide receiver. Coach Wannstedt said it’s because it seems the fastest way to get him on the field. Again, that seems a little reading between the lines to suggest that in the running game noone has truly separated from the pack. The alternative is to suggest that the WR corp is that solid and set. I don’t think anyone sober can really say that right now.

Finally on Brandon Mason, Coach Wannstedt didn’t directly say why the Redshirt Sophomore RB was “excused for personal reasons” but he sure made it clear to anyone with half a brain.

… We have had a few (players dealing with personal issues), but it’s all part of the process. I think some of the freshmen situations are different from upperclassmen. Most upperclassmen, if they leave, it’s because they feel they’re not going to have an opportunity to play. With the freshmen, it’s they’re homesick, or the girlfriend, or their high school buddies, you know, it’s a whole different set of environments.

Hmmm?