Gazette-Times Reporter

Charles Burnley is the poster child for change.

The sophomore has been on the Oregon State campus for two years and has yet to go six months without a position change for the football team.

Since it's spring time, Burnley's on the move again.

He and four others changed positions from the end of last season. There were various reasons, but it comes down to enhancing the team with their talents.

"It was really about opportunity for them," coach Mike Riley said. "It's something we saw in them. We don't move guys just to move them. We saw a possibility for them to move up on the depth chart."

As the spring concludes Burnley appears to be making the biggest impact. He moved from cornerback to tailback and has shown flashes of brilliance the past two weeks.

Burnley hoped to return to the backfield for some time, and mentioned it to the coaches several times. The situation finally seemed right. There's no returning starter and last year's primary backup, Ryan Cole, transferred.

"I go with what the coaches suggest," Burnley said. "It's a compliment to me that they think I have a lot of athletic ability and I'm versatile."

Being a ball carrier has inspired him with how he approaches practice. Jimtavis Walker and Yvenson Bernard are the top candidates to be the starter in the fall, but Burnley has pushed them and may play a support role.

"It's definitely an opportunity," Burnley said. "We have a great backfield, it's very competitive. Where I fit in, is where I fit in. If it's first, second or third string I'm just happy to be on the offensive side of the ball. I think I can provide some good things for this team."

Burnley was recruited as a running back out of Valencia High in the Los Angeles area. The 6-foot, 178-pounder was considered the 12th best ball carrier on the West Coast by PacWestFootball.

He had a standout senior season, in the fall of 2002, rushing for 2,082 yards and 18 touchdowns. In two seasons, Burnley recorded 4,182 yards and 48 TDs.

That's the last time he carried the ball in a game.

"I'm just trying to get back into the scheme of things and get comfortable with my style of running, trying to make people miss," Burnley said of spring practice. "The college level is way faster than high school."

Burnley arrived at OSU in the spring of 2004 with an abundance of running backs on the team. However, there wasn't much depth at wide receiver. So his first move was in order.

After working out in the spring as a receiver, it was evident he would be better suited for cornerback.

"When I made the switch to receiver, I thought it was the best move at the time for me," Burnley said. "I tried that out, but that didn't quite work. I made the move to corner. I was doing pretty good at corner, it was just my heart was still on the offensive side of the ball."

Burnley played as a true freshman last season, mostly on special teams. He made 10 tackles and recovered a fumble.

The position suited his lean frame. He had the speed and leaping ability to keep up with most receivers, having been a track standout at Valencia.

"I was a pretty good corner, but they could see my heart was still somewhere else, on the offensive side of the ball," Burnley said. "I feel comfortable. This is what I've played all my life in Pop Warner and high school. Some of our high school plays are pretty similar, so it was an easy adjustment."

Burnley is a slashing type of runner, not someone who can work between the tackles on a regular basis. Screens, swing passes and sweeps are his best plays.

When he gets outside, Burnley can break tackles. He's even being worked in as a kick returner to make use of his moves.

"I'm a small guy," Burnley said. "I'm not someone to run someone over. So I have to use my speed and quickness to my advantage with a couple cuts. I definitely don't want to get hit."

Redshirt freshman Brandon Hughes is another player who made the move from receiver to cornerback. His change was a last-minute decision.

The 5-11, 172-pounder from Bloomington, Ill., was brought in as receiver. He played some defensive back in high school, but not much.

"It's been going pretty smooth, but there have been some ups and downs," Hughes said. "It's just another adjustment I have to make. We're taught to adjust on the fly."

Hughes showed up the first day of spring practice as a receiver. After spending his redshirt season in the position, he thought it would be more of the same.

There was a meeting after practice about his move. He slept on it and showed up at the second practice with a different colored jersey. Now he spends most of his time backpedaling.

"They offered it to me, I thought about it and I thought it was a better move for me," Hughes said. "I want to get on the field earlier and my chances are better at cornerback."

Learning the plays at cornerback was easier, but his position coach Nigel Burton has been spending plenty of one-on-one time with him on technique.

The other three who changed positions were senior Jeremy Weldon, sophomore Jeff Kruskamp and senior Star Paddock.

Paddock was a long snapper, but with two players ahead of him and limited running backs, the walk-on tried the backfield.

Weldon and Kruskamp were low on the depth chart at the crowded tight end position, while there weren't many people for the two defensive end spots.

Just moving over placed them on the third string. With some hard work, and with the possibility of injuries, they could be called on this season.

Weldon, a West Albany High grad, started his career for OSU at defensive end. It's new to Kruskamp, but a good opportunity for both of them.