Spring practice opens

Today, Cal’s spring practice began with a few news items of note.

#1: RB Jahvid Best is already well enough to be out doing individual drills in a red noncontact jersey.

Best, who suffered a major hip injury last season, is not expected to participate in the team drills this spring. After practice, Best said:

“I was just told to come out here and go as hard as I can and see how my hip responds. After today, I feel pretty good. The only thing I felt is that I’m a little bit out of shape from not doing too much in a long time. But I felt fine . . . they basically just wanted to see how it responds if I act normal, and then go from there to see how it plays out.”

J. Okanes says that Best “looked like the blur he usually is during individual drills” as his “speed was there.” He even saw Best “cut definitively a few times and it looked like the Best of last season.”

“I’m past the point of being scared to cut or scared to run fast,” Best said. “I’m just trying to go out there and act normal.”

#2: CB Syd’Quan Thompson has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.

This development is a big surprise — Thompson is a returning starter, largely expected to be a leader of the team this season. Coach Jeff Tedford said “he’ll be out until I deem he can come back,” which does not sound too good.

#3: QB Nate Longshore is still taking reps with the first team.

As Tedford mentioned after last season, Longshore has begun spring practice with the first team offense, while Kevin Riley has been taking second team reps. Redshirt freshman Brock Mansion got a few snaps as well. Tedford has stated that he may not name a starter until the end of fall practice.

#4: RB James Montgomery was in the “doghouse” and hopes to transfer to Florida.

Montgomery, who left the team two weeks ago, was already in a little bit of trouble last season. Tedford noted:

“He was late to a couple of 6:30 a.m. workouts and he was in the doghouse a little bit,” he said. “Things weren’t going well for him . . .You hate to see that though,” he said. “You wish he would have given himself the chance to go through the spring and see where he would have ended up.”

Tedford also mentioned his surprise at Montgomery’s unhappiness at Cal and sudden departure.

“That was the first I ever heard of that,” he said. “We wish him well. He’s a good kid.”

Montgomery’s former high school teammate WR Carl Moore at Florida said yesterday that Montgomery would be heading to Florida if offered a scholarship. As a side note, Montgomery was Moore’s host while Cal recruited him this fall — given the circumstances now, it’s not surprising that Moore committed to Florida instead.

#5: Incoming freshman RB Covaughn DeBoskie has started taking reps immediately.

DeBoskie, who has enrolled early to participate in spring ball, is already carrying the ball. With the departure of Montgomery, the rehab of Best, and a hamstring injury to Shane Vereen, DeBoskie is sharing reps with Tracy Slocom.

DeBoskie is joined by DT Kendrick Payne, who also graduated high school early to enroll for the spring. Tedford noted:

“I can just imagine that their eyes are pretty big,” Tedford laughed. “Just trying to get used to the speed of the game. Covaughn got hit once today by Rulon [Davis] and lost his helmet, so he’s getting his feet wet a little bit. When we get the pads on, Kendrick’s inside, he’ll feel what it’s like to play at this level too. But they’ve done a great job. I couldn’t be more impressed with their work ethic and the things that they’ve done. You really have to admire guys like that, to come as freshmen right now, right in the thick of this. They’ve really worked hard in the strength and conditioning program.”

Sources and links:

• Calbears.com: “Golden Bears Open Spring Football Practice”
• BearTalk: “Spring practice begins”
• Daily Cal: “Best Getting Better as Cal Opens Its Spring Camp”
• Sacramento Bee: “Moore says Montgomery likes Florida”
  
• SF Chronicle: “Cal’s Riley set for his time at controls”