Beavers kick off a search for leaders.

Byline: Bob Clark The Register-Guard

CORVALLIS - Kyle DeVan was out there, giving some advice to the Oregon State offensive linemen.

Curtis Coker was on the turf of Reser Stadium, too, exhorting defensive linemen. Yvenson Bernard stopped by, as did a couple of the starting linebackers from last season.

But as much as the Beavers liked seeing so many of last season's seniors around for Monday's first spring practice, it was also a reminder of what OSU needs to replace.

And not only the physical abilities of that bunch, but their leadership that contributed so much to OSU's 19 wins and two bowl triumphs in the past two seasons. Who leads now?

"It will be a passing on as far as who those guys are." OSU coach Mike Riley said after drills ended Monday. "I've got an inkling."

The offense does have five seniors listed as starters on the depth chart, but two played sparingly last season and another was a backup.

Defensively, the Beavers need to replace their entire front seven plus a safety, though the three returning starters in the secondary all will be seniors.

"It doesn't have anything to do with age," Riley said of leadership.

He also doesn't see it as something his players can claim with a vocal campaign.

"We don't need leaders who give speeches, we need leaders like Yvenson Bernard," Riley said. "He didn't give a speech his whole time here and he was as good a leader as I've ever been around. I would tell guys, `if you want to learn how to do things correctly, go follow this guy around for a while.'

"We need people to not advertise to be a leader or proclaim they're a leader, but be a leader."

One obvious candidate that Riley pointed to is junior quarterback Lyle Moevao, the starter while Sean Canfield recovers from shoulder surgery.

"It's definitely time to step up as a leader," Moevao said.

What he needs to do, he said, is "be the example of how it's supposed to be done. It puts some pressure on me but pressure can be a good thing if you handle it well."

Defensively, solidifying the depth chart might need to come before the leaders are firmly established, but one likely candidate is senior Bryant Cornell, expected to be the starting middle linebacker after two seasons as the primary backup.

"We don't really pick a leader," Cornell said, as much as "people just gravitate to leadership roles ... sometimes those roles fall in your lap."

As far as determining this season's leaders, Cornell said "I don't think it's an issue. A bunch of seniors left last year, but we've got a bunch of seniors that are showing up this year."

Changes at receiver

One of the Beavers absent on Monday was senior split end Sammie Stroughter, who was ill.

His return for his senior season, after a medical redshirt last fall, prompted the move of James Rodgers to the slot receiver position, where he lined up Monday. Riley said the three best receivers are Stroughter, Rodgers and Darrell Catchings, and the Beavers want all three on the field.

And what about the "fly sweep" play Rodgers ran to such success last season?

It's still in, and Stroughter would have run it Monday if he had been available, Riley said. Plus, the Beavers have added a couple of variations with Rodgers in the slot position.

Also

Viliamu Nau, the junior college transfer expected to contend for a starting offensive tackle position, didn't practice Monday because of what Riley termed some "issues" with the paperwork needed for Nau's admission to OSU. He should practice Wednesday, Riley said. ... Canfield is ahead of schedule in his recovery on his left shoulder, but Riley said he doesn't want to rush the return of Canfield, meaning he probably won't throw this spring. ... The Beavers won't be in pads until next Monday. NCAA rules require three practices during the spring that don't involve full contact and Riley decided to do all three this week ... OSU will work out Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the first four weeks of spring drills, then Monday and Wednesday before the spring game on May 3, a Saturday.