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12 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 5 f Halfway tHere Jack DeBoef, J.J. Prince, Jason Tretter and Joey Warburg may have been the clos- est-watched Boilermakers in spring ball. As the team's only offensive tackles with both starting spots open, there was a wide- open shot for someone to seize a job. It appears only one did. Prince, a sophomore who played only a handful of game snaps as a redshirt fresh- man last season, rose to the challenge at right tackle and emerged as the clear-cut starter for Week 1. That spot likely is cemented with JUCO transfer Corey Clements now being pro- jected as a guard by Hazell. Clements played tackle while in junior college but his 380-plus pounds could have him better-suited on the interior, and with Jordan Roos and Cameron Cermin failing to secure the spot at right guard this spring, there's opportunity for Clements to be a starter there. And Prince should line up on the right side with the first-team group, the position he played throughout the spring. "I think I competed at the best of my ability," Prince said. "It wasn't perfect, but I did my job. I think I've done it as well as I could. I'm hop- ing that it's my position to lose." Hazell called the left tackle spot, though, his biggest concern heading into the fall. DeBoef got the majority of the snaps with the No. 1 offense and struggled especially in pass protection. By the final week of spring, Warburg started to get reps with the first team, but he proved largely inconsistent as well. Perhaps the answer will be JUCO transfer David Hedelin, but he's been rising stars Which players had the most impressive spring sessions? Here are our picks: Name Position Skinny Robert Gregory Safety It's clear Gregory is still raw after being moved from run- ning back to the secondary — he often drew the attention of new DB coach Taver Johnson when he misaligned or had technique issues. But Gregory also seems to have natural ability for the position and the physicality the unit so desperately needs. Dolapo Macarthy Tight end Coaches believe Macarthy is best-suited to match up against linebackers, where he can use his size and athlet- icism and not be held back by inability to get separation from quicker DBs. Before Macarthy's shoulder injury, he seemed to be emerging as a weapon detached from the line. Ra'Zahn Howard Nose tackle Though he trimmed down and worked on his condition- ing — a necessity to get more snaps during the season — Howard still maintained his power and explosion from the middle of the defense playing in the low 300s. He has potential to be a stout run-stopper in 2014. Tom Campbell J.J. Prince emerged as a legitimate top option at right tackle with a strong per- formance this spring. That's especially important because it allows incoming transfer Corey Clements can now move to guard.