Safety Shakiel Randolph is visibly stronger and has a decided advantage when trying to intercept or knock down high passes (photo by SMU athletics).

• The visitors at practice Friday included scouts from the Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans.

• Also in attendance: former SMU G Sean Lobo.

• One of the freshmen who has drawn raves from teammates and coaches alike is S Darrion Richardson. He has been called “very instinctive” and clearly has a knack for being around the ball, and he has shown very good ball skills — making interceptions and causing fumbles.

• The defensive backs do a drill every day in which two players run downfield after passes — one as the DB, one as the mock receiver. After the receiver catches the ball, the DB then jumps up to try to punch the ball free. When “WR” J.R. Richardson caught a pass thrown by DBs coach Derrick Odum, CB Horace Richardson climbed the ladder to poke the ball free, subsequently collecting the interception. The play was impressive, but wasn’t good enough for Odum, who felt that Horace Richardson waited too long and came back down to the ground before punching the ball free. Despite the turnover, Odum demanded that Horace Richardson “time your jump better.”

• In the same drill, effort and technique are one thing, but in some cases, size dictates the outcome. When S Shakiel Randolph has the inside position on a pass thrown high and on his inside, it would take an outside player who looks like Cannen Cunningham to break up the play. Randolph, who is listed at 6-5, is visibly stronger than he was a year ago, runs well. Combine that with his long arms and jumping ability, and either he’ll get to those passes or nobody will.

• One reason for optimism about the 2013 defense: the linebackers can really run. Former starter Ja’Gared Davis is fast, but through the first few days of camp, 2013 starters Stephon Sanders and Robert Seals have shown they have the wheels to run with wide receivers. No, that doesn’t mean that they’re going to change positions and become cornerbacks, but when called upon, each has tailed receivers downfield and stayed with them … impressive for guys listed at 6-3, 250 (Sanders) and 6-3, 225 (Seals).