Gazette-Times Reporter

Several new starters debut Thursday night in the Oregon State football team’s season opener at Stanford, but center is one position coach Mike Riley is not as worried about as others.

Sophomore Alex Linnenkohl is the starter after bouncing between that position and guard during his time at OSU.

When projected starting center Marcus Henderson missed most of training camp with mono, Linnenkohl won the position by default. Riley, however, points out that it was a tight contest anyway.

Linnenkohl is a 6-foot-2, 288-pounder from Olympia, Wash. He spent his redshirt season and freshman year steadily learning the system. Coaches noticed his recent progress.

“I’ve been very impressed with Linnenkohl,” Riley said. “He’s a good example of our younger guys sticking with it and working hard. They look like they have a long way to go before they play, and then all of sudden the light comes on.”

Linnenkohl played in two games last year in a mop-up role, so the first-hit nerves are gone. The biggest pressure for him will be reading the defense and making the blocking assignments in a split second and with the game on the line.

However, veteran linemen Andy Levitre, Adam Speer and Gregg Peat plan to help.

“We are taking it as a whole line responsibility this year,” Speer said. “We have to all see the field and determine where the pressure is coming from. It all comes down to the center, but we have to help him and help direct it.”

Afalava’s replacement

Either Austin Hall or Suaesi Tuimaunei will start at safety for Al Afalava, who is suspended for the game from an offseason off-the-field incident. Redshirt freshmen Cameron Collins and Lance Mitchell should have the opportunity to play some.

“I feel good about them,” Riley said of his young safeties. “I’d rather not go down this road but it is part of the consequences we face from a mistake. We don’t worry about it now, and we are good.”

Staying home

Offensive guard Jeremy Perry will not make the trip because his injured knee is not ready, Riley said. A return date is not set.

“My hope is he comes back and plays,” Riley said. “I doubt it’s at Penn State (for Game 2), and I don’t know after that.”

Quarterback Sean Canfield won’t make the trip since his injured shoulder hasn’t allowed him to practice. A long-term answer on Canfield should come next week, Riley said.

Ryan Katz and Justin Engstrom will be there as backups. Katz is there just in case. The plan remains to redshirt him.

Mono recovery

Henderson and defensive tackle Mitchel Hunt have missed most of camp due to mono. They will have an ultrasound on their spleens, and if all looks good to the doctor they will return to practice after the first game.

“Then it’s their conditioning as a factor as to when they can play,” Riley said.

Dockery’s surgery

Second string cornerback and core special teams player James Dockery will have arthroscopic surgery on his knee today and is expected to be out for three weeks, Riley said. Dockery was hurt last Wednesday lifting weights.