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Freshman Josh LaGrone and senior Al Afalava, both safeties, take a knee during practice on Monday. The defensive backfield for the Beavers is considered to be the strongest part on the team. Afalava, Brandon Hughes, Keenan Lewis and Greg Laybourn are the projected starters.

Half of the Beavers push through a few rounds of wind sprints toward the end of practice on Tuesday.

Team captain Brandon Hughes shares strategy with fellow captain Victor Butler while taking a drink on the sidelines between drills.

ophomore James Rodgers and the fly sweep are still in the playbook, and he broke off a handful of great runs against his teammates.

Gone Campin'

Fall football practice has started Butler, Hughes, Levitre and Stroughter named as team captains

By:

Posted: 8/6/08

The Beavers began fall camp Aug. 1, and just four days into camp, some of OSU's starters are already beginning to distance themselves from the pack.

A week ago, head coach Mike Riley announced that seniors Victor Butler, Brandon Hughes, Andy Levitre and Sammie Stroughter have been named football team captains for the 2008 season. The four were selected via a recent team vote.

Butler is slated to be a starter at defensive end this season after being used mainly as a pass rush specialist in previous years. The Rialto, Calif., native was among the national leaders last season with 10.5 sacks accounting for 101 lost yards. The Ted Hendricks Award candidate has made 53 tackles, including 18 for loss and 13.5 sacks.

Hughes, from Bloomington, Ill., has started the last 31 games at cornerback. The Lott Trophy and Jim Thorpe candidate was a second team All-Pac-10 selection last season after making 12 pass breakups and 57 tackles.

Levitre is an offensive tackle from Ben Lomond, Calif. He has started 26 games in his career, including 22 straight. He was a second team All-Pac-10 selection last season for his play and academics. Levitre and teammate Jeremy Perry are Outland Trophy candidates for 2008. Both have 26 starts to their credit. Perry is returning after seeing limited action last season due to breaking his leg in the season opener vs. Utah.

Stroughter, from Sacramento, Calif., is a co-team captain for the second straight year. The receiver regained his senior season, earning a medical hardship from the Pac-10 Conference after playing in three games in 2007. He was an Associated Press Third Team All-American in 2006 and is a candidate for the Maxwell Award this season.

Riley also appoints a game captain every week.

The 2008 roster includes student athletes with a combined 234 starts, led by senior cornerback Keenan Lewis with 34 and fellow cornerback Hughes with 31. Lewis has a chance to be the OSU's second-ever four-time Pac-10 First Team All-Academic selection this season, joining former cornerback Dennis Weathersby (1999-2002).

Practices are always open to the public, but fans are cautioned to be aware of the narrow sidelines in Truax Indoor Center.