Watch one of SMUΓÇÖs spring practices, and itΓÇÖs easy to notice whatΓÇÖs missing, including defensive ends Taylor Thompson and Margus Hunt are out while recovering from surgeries; safety Chris Banjo is limited while recovering from wrist surgery; and safety-turned-linebacker Randy McKinnon is sitting out while awaiting an NCAA ruling on another year of eligibility after his 2010 season was cut short by a knee injury.

Defensive coordinator Tom Mason said defensive end Beau Barnes could end up around 260 pounds and could play a key backup role in 2011 (photo by Travis Johnston).

But SMU defensive coordinator Tom Mason sees things differently. Maybe itΓÇÖs simply a matter of a glass-half-full philosophy, but Mason says, ΓÇ£I think we can be pretty salty.ΓÇ¥ That optimism, Mason said, is due in part to the performance through the first half of spring workouts of a quartet of young players whose roles within the SMU defense should grow

Marquis Frazier could play either defensive end or nose tackle (or both) in the fall, but during the spring, he is doing little more than Hunt and Thompson, running through position drills but mostly watching as reserves take the majority of snaps in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills. Mason said he has been impressed by Szymon Czerniak, who came on as a ke reserve in 2010, and Beau Barnes, who redshirted last season.

ΓÇ£BeauΓÇÖs the kind of guy you want to get a ton of reps,ΓÇ¥ Mason said. ΓÇ£I think heΓÇÖs a player who is excited about learning, and heΓÇÖs a young kid with big growth potential. I think heΓÇÖs a guy who has 255- or 260-pound potential. HeΓÇÖs an athletic kid who can be a good backup for us this year, getting maybe 25 plays a game or so.ΓÇ¥

Among the linebackers, Mason and linebackers coach Joe Haering must replace two graduated starters: Pete Fleps and Youri Yenga. The plan all along has been for Cameron Rogers to replace Fleps at the ΓÇ£BuckΓÇ¥ (inside) spot, and Mason said he already is impressed by RogersΓÇÖ performance.

ΓÇ£I think heΓÇÖs going to be a really good football player for us,ΓÇ¥ Mason said. ΓÇ£HeΓÇÖs pretty mobile and heΓÇÖs pretty strong, but heΓÇÖs also a really smart player. Pete was second on the team in tackles last year, and as good as he was, I donΓÇÖt really expect a lot of drop-off.ΓÇ¥

Defensive coordinator Tom Mason said Uchenna Nwabuike has grown a lot in his first year on the Hilltop ?ó?é¼?Ç¥ both physically and as a player (photo by Webmaster).

Who will replace Yenga is a little less certain. There are several candidates vying for the job, but one who has stood out this spring to Mason is Uchenna Nwabuike, who will be a redshirt freshman in the fall.

ΓÇ£Uchenna has had some great practices this spring,ΓÇ¥ Mason said. ΓÇ£He and Victor Jones are both doing really well on that side.

ΓÇ£UchennaΓÇÖs a guy who was a defensive lineman in high school, so a lot of what we have our linebackers do isnΓÇÖt really natural for him. But his potential for growth ΓÇö both physically and as a player ΓÇö is huge. He has worked really hard, and heΓÇÖs a lot stronger. HeΓÇÖs learning a lot faster than I thought he would, too ΓÇö when he really gets it, heΓÇÖs going to be pretty good.ΓÇ¥

The other linebacker who has caught MasonΓÇÖs eye in the early part of spring practice is Kevin Pope, who is getting a look on defense after spending the 2010 season as a backup running back.

ΓÇ£Kevin played some linebacker in high school, but heΓÇÖs a lot more instinctual than I thought he would be,ΓÇ¥ Mason said. ΓÇ£HeΓÇÖs a pretty fast learner, too, and the difference between his first week (at linebacker) and his second was like night and day.

ΓÇ£Kevin has something you canΓÇÖt teach, and thatΓÇÖs the ability to accelerate into contact. In all the years I have been coaching, I might have had six guys who had that. HeΓÇÖs got a way to go, but heΓÇÖs got a lot of potential to be a good linebacker.ΓÇ¥