A telltale sign of spring practice is a depth chart filled with ORs.
Coaches preach year-round competition, but it's a theme that resonates strongest during the 15 practices each spring. It's the first chapter of a team's story, and position battles often form subplots for the coming season.
Not every position will be settled by the end of the spring. Some of the nation's most intriguing spots, like the quarterback positions for national champion Ohio State and runner-up Oregon, likely won't be decided until preseason camp because of lingering injuries (Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett) or impending arrivals (Vernon Adams). But the spring provides clues about which players can take the OR away and cement themselves into key roles.
As teams continue to begin spring ball, here are 12 position competitions to track around the country (in alphabetical order). Not surprisingly, the list is quarterback heavy but features a few other spots of intrigue.
Alabama's cornerbacks: Alabama might not have a cornerback problem yet, but there should be a cornerback concern. The Tide allowed 226 pass yards per game last fall -- the most in the Nick Saban era -- and were especially vulnerable to big plays. Alabama returns a starter in Cyrus Jones, who led the team in passes defended (16) and tied for the lead in interceptions (3). Tony Brown, who started two games as a true freshman, will compete with gifted redshirt freshman Marlon Humphrey. Alabama's top-rated recruiting class also bolstered the position with Kendall Sheffield and Minkah Fitzpatrick, both ranked among the nation's top four corners by ESPN RecruitingNation. The entire secondary will be in the spotlight this spring as Alabama loses a lot at safety.
Florida State's quarterbacks: Jameis Winston was a divisive figure but unquestionably a unique talent, going 26-1 as the Seminoles' starter with 65 touchdown passes and 7,964 yards. There won't be as much national scrutiny in Tallahassee this spring, but Florida State has a huge void to fill under center. Sean Maguire had mixed results filling in for Winston last year against Clemson and will have to beat out J.J. Cosentino, a decorated 2014 recruit who redshirted last fall. John Franklin III was FSU's third-stringer last year and could move to receiver. Coach Jimbo Fisher will give early enrollee De'Andre Johnson a look this spring, and if things aren't settled, Deondre Francois enters the mix this summer. Maguire and Cosentino both have similar size to Winston.
Georgia's quarterbacks: New offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer inherits a veteran offensive line, talented receivers and arguably the nation's best running back in sophomore Nick Chubb. But he must identify a quarterback to replace the efficient Hutson Mason (21 touchdowns, four interceptions in 2014). Coach Mark Richt recently called the competition "as wide-open as it's ever been since I've been at Georgia, probably." Strong-armed sophomore Brice Ramsey, who played sparingly in eight games as Mason's backup last season, must hold off junior Faton Bauta and redshirt freshman Jacob Park. Bauta brings some mobility to the pocket, but Park, who drew good reviews running the scout team last fall, looks like the primary challenger to Ramsey.
Louisville's quarterbacks: This could be a wait-and-see situation as Will Gardner, who made seven starts last season, recovers from his third ACL injury. But the uncertainty around Gardner's health forces Louisville to move forward with candidates Reggie Bonnafon, Kyle Bolin and Tyler Ferguson. Both Bonnafon and Bolin saw playing time last season because of injury, combining for nine touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Ferguson transferred from Penn State last January and spent the season studying Bobby Petrino's system. Gardner, Bonnafon and Bolin all completed less than 58 percent of their attempts last season, so Louisville will be looking for more accuracy in a pass game that loses star wideout DeVante Parker.
LSU's quarterbacks: The same candidates will compete for the second consecutive spring, but LSU needs dramatically different results from the quarterback spot when the season begins. Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris once again will seek the starting job, which Jennings obtained last year before he struggled, completing just 48.9 percent of his passes and averaging 123.9 yards per game. Harris completed 55.6 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and two interceptions in limited relief work. Coach Les Miles wants to name a starter by the end of the spring, and while Justin McMillan has enrolled early, this appears to be a two-man race. LSU has the pieces elsewhere to make a playoff push but can no longer be hindered by quarterback play.
Michigan's running backs: Quarterback is a chief priority for new coach Jim Harbaugh, but whoever lines up under center will need more support in the run game. A powerful run attack is a hallmark of Harbaugh teams and has been absent at Michigan in recent years. Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith both started games last fall and had nice yards-per-carry averages -- 5.7 for Green, 4.8 for Smith. Like Green and Smith, USC transfer Ty Isaac brings great size to the backfield and should fit in well with Harbaugh's offense. Drake Johnson emerged late last season but will miss the spring as he recovers from an ACL injury. Michigan needs multiple options at running back, and while the spring might not provide complete clarity, it should spit out a few clues.
Michigan State's cornerbacks: Barring a major surprise April 30 in Chicago, Michigan State will produce a first-round NFL draft pick at cornerback for the second consecutive year, as Trae Waynes is expected to follow Darqueze Dennard. Can the "No Fly Zone" keep the pipeline going? Darian Hicks started the first 10 games opposite Waynes last season but lost his starting job during the stretch run. Co-defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett, who oversees the secondary, has made it clear that both top cornerback jobs are open this spring. Hicks and Demetrious Cox are the favorites to start but will be pushed by veteran reserves Arjen Colquhoun and Jermaine Edmondson. Michigan State hasn't shied away from giving talented young corners major roles, and redshirt freshmen Vayante Copeland and Jalen Watts-Jackson also will get looks this spring.
Notre Dame's quarterbacks: Everett Golson's comeback story took an unsettling twist late last season as his turnovers increased, his completion percentage dropped and Notre Dame's promising season fizzled. Then came the transfer rumors, which aren't going away. Golson now must fight for his starting job after Malik Zaire took over in the Music City Bowl and played well in Notre Dame's win against LSU. Zaire's effectiveness in the read-option makes him a viable candidate to unseat Golson, who must regain his confidence this spring. Redshirt freshman DeShone Kizer, who stands nearly 6-foot-5 and weighs 220 pounds, also will compete and try to impress coach Brian Kelly and new offensive coordinator Mike Sanford.
Oklahoma's quarterbacks: A year ago, Trevor Knight had the job locked up after leading Oklahoma to a Sugar Bowl win against Alabama. But like Golson, Knight saw a promising 2014 season slip away as he struggled with turnovers and injury down the stretch. After Knight struggled in the Russell Athletic Bowl, coach Bob Stoops opened up the competition and brought in a new offensive coordinator in Lincoln Riley. Cody Thomas, who started the three games Knight missed with injury last fall, announced last month he wouldn't play baseball this year to focus on the quarterback race. Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield, who drew strong reviews in practice, is finally eligible and will push for the top job. Redshirt freshman Justice Hansen also will compete but lacks the experience of the other candidates.
TCU's linebackers: Worrying about a Gary Patterson-led defense seems like a giant waste of time, but nitpicking is necessary when a team has national championship aspirations. TCU's season hinges on reloading its traditionally stronger unit, especially at linebacker, where prolific players Paul Dawson and Marcus Mallet depart. Only two returning linebackers, Sammy Douglas and Paul Whitmill, recorded tackles last season, so there's plenty of playing time available. Early enrollees Mike Freeze and Alec Dunham should be part of the rotation, and Ty Summers, a former quarterback who missed last season with a shoulder injury, also will get a look. Patterson also said recently he wants to evaluate the strong safeties at linebacker this spring.
UCLA's quarterbacks: The Brett Hundley era is over and UCLA sets out to replace the record-setting signal-caller. Jerry Neuheisel stepped up in relief of Hundley last year against Texas and, while he didn't log significant time in other games, drew good reviews from the coaching staff. Neuheisel is smart and charismatic, but incoming recruit Josh Rosen, already enrolled, boasts all the measurables and acclaim as the nation's No. 2 pocket passer in the 2015 recruiting class. Asiantii Woulard also is in the mix and brings diverse skills to the competition. But after being beaten out for the backup job last spring, Woulard must show the coaches greater consistency this spring.
Washington's defensive line: No FBS defense loses more superstars than Washington's, which parts ways with three first-team AP All-Americans, including two linemen in mammoth tackle Danny Shelton and Hau'oli Kikaha, who played the defensive end-linebacker hybrid role and led the nation with 19 sacks. The Huskies also lose Andrew Hudson and Evan Hudson, creating a free-for-all this spring. Tackle Elijah Qualls and end Joe Mathis, who played more late in the 2014 season and showed some promise, must continue to develop. Jarrett Finau, who could fill Kikaha's spot, is one of several experienced returnees alongside tackle Taniela Tupou and end Damion Turpin. Will Dissly also will be in the rotation after appearing in six games as a true freshman last fall.
Other notable position competitions:
• Alabama's quarterbacks
• Arizona State's wide receivers
• Baylor's quarterbacks
• Florida's quarterbacks
• Florida State's defensive line
• Kansas State's quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers
• Miami's running backs
• Oklahoma State's offensive line
• Penn State's offensive line
• Texas' quarterbacks
• Wisconsin's quarterbacks