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skill sets are not as dissimilar as the phys- ical disparity between the two might sug- gest, even when they're on the run. While McSorley tested better in the pro agility drill and 40-yard dash, Franklin said they are comparable when they're on the field. "If you talk to our players, [Stevens] plays as fast as Trace," he said. "When he would pull the ball down, he would take off, and he's got this long stride and he's a guy who could make plays with his arm or his feet. He's handled everything really well. He's embraced his role and his op- portunity. He is approaching this as if he is going to be the starter and believes that 100 percent, and Trace feels the same way. I think, to be honest with you, there are a lot of similar traits." Whether or not either quarterback will come out of spring practice with a sig- nificant lead remains to be seen. Franklin said the competition could continue through the summer into preseason camp and maybe even the team's opener in Sep- tember against Kent State. "I think you always would like to try to have your quarterback named as early as possible so they can go into the summer and really take hold of the team. But we don't want to make that decision just be- cause of that," Franklin said. "We want to make sure we're making the right decision, No. 1. And if that becomes obvious very early on, great. If it needs to go to summer camp, we're willing to go to summer camp, and if it needs to be the first game… that could be the case, as well. "It wouldn't surprise me if that goes to camp, just as competitive as those two guys have been with each other. And you never know what's going to happen with a guy like Jake Zembiec. You just never know. It's hard to keep him as part of the equation right now because we haven't seen him, but you never know. It wouldn't surprise me if that goes to camp." ■ PHIL GROSZ'S SPRING DEPTH CHART* OFFENSE WR Chris Godwin Juwan Johnson W WR Saeed Blacknall Irvin Charles WR DaeSean Hamilton Brandon Polk DeAndre Thompkins RT Andrew Nelson Noah Beh/Sterling Jenkins RG Brendan Mahon Steven Gonzalez/Chasz Wright C Brian Gaia Wendy Laurent Connor McGovern LG Derek Dowrey Ryan Bates/Chance Sorrell LT Paris Palmer Sterling Jenkins/Chance Sorrell TE Mike Gesicki/Nick Bowers Jonathan Holland/Danny Dalton RB Saquon Barkley Andre Robinson/Mark Allen Johnathan Thomas QB Trace McSorley/Tommy Stevens Jake Zembiec DEFENSE DE Torrence Brown Evan Schwan/Shareef Miller DT Kevin Givens Robert Windsor DT Antoine White Kamonte Carter/Curtis Cothran DE Garrett Sickels Ryan Buchholz/Colin Castagna OLB Manny Bowen Von Walker/Brandon Smith MLB Jason Cabinda Brandon Smith/Jake Cooper OLB Jake Cooper Jason Cabinda/Von Walker CB Grant Haley Amani Oruwariye Christian Campbell FS Marcus Allen Troy Apke/Koa Farmer SS Malik Golden Jarvis Miller/Ayron Monroe CB John Reid Garrett Taylor/Nick Scott * Applies only to spring practice; depth chart does not include incoming freshmen or play- ers who missed most or all of practice due to injuries • Curtis Cothran and Kevin Givens have both moved from defensive end to defensive tackle. The other noteworthy position change of the spring has run- ning back Nick Scott switching to the secondary, where he is expected to pro- vide depth at cornerback. • Coach James Franklin o;ered a glowing assessment of sophomore run- ning back Saquon Barkley, speaking about the testing numbers that he post- ed as part of the team's winter condi- tioning program. "You look at his size and strength and speed numbers [and] they're as good as anywhere in the country, college or I would even say the NFL," Franklin said. • Franklin talked at length about the o;ensive line, a position group that is sure to be a major topic of conversation. He described Paris Palmer as a changed man, and also said that Brian Gaia, Derek Dowrey, Wendy Laurent, Brendan Mahon and Andrew Nelson are in the team's "top six." However, he added that those players can expect to be pushed by some of the team's younger linemen, such as Noah Beh, Chasz Wright, Steven Gonzalez, Connor Mc- Govern, Ryan Bates and Sterling Jenk- ins. "There's a group of guys who have been waiting for their time," Franklin said. "They've been waiting their turn to prove that they're ready. Some are more ready than others, but these 15 days will give us a really good opportu- nity to see how much progress they've made." • Senior tight end Brent Wilkerson was suspended from the team inde:- nitely in March a

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