Even though the ISU football team has yet to practice with pads this spring, the offensive line is progressing and learning like the lights turn on next week.

Offensive line coach Bill Bleil said there is some exciting competition for the five starting spots for the fall with the departure of two of the corps’ more consistent players, Ben Lamaak and Alex Alvarez.

“I’m seeing great enthusiasm,” Bleil said. “I’ve got depth, I’ve got young depth, I’ve got young guys that are excited about it and they’re playing well. They’ve come in and they’re ready and it’s been fun.”

With players such as Tom Farniok and Sam Tautolo vying for the spot at center, for example, Bleil said that he has more depth on the offensive line now than he has ever had.

“The depth creates competition,” Bleil said. “There’s a couple spots where they know they can’t come to practice and not play well because the guys right behind them want that spot.”

Farniok, a redshirt freshman, is currently No. 1 on the depth chart at center, but his position is yet to be set in stone.

“Tom Farniok is doing a really good job right now but Sam [Tautolo] is kind of new,” Bleil said. “He’s just kind of learning, it’s kind of spinning on him a little bit right now but he’s a good football player. As he gets more reps, as we get more practice, he’ll get better quickly.”

Senior Kelechi Osemele returns to his starting spot at left tackle as one of three returning starters, having shown improvement from this off-season.

“I’m in the training room a lot more so my hip flexibility is a little bit better, my knee bends better so I have more range of motion,” Osemele said. “So I’ll be able to generate more power.”

Osemele said he has taken both Ethan Tuftee and Shaban Dika, who are in contention for the starting spot at left guard, under his wing.

“I’m trying to make sure the guys playing next to me are ready to go so they can step in and play at the level I want to play at,” Osemele said.

As a fifth-year senior, Osemele is able to point out what the less-experienced linemen can expect from deceptive defenders.

“If I see something a defender can exploit like reaching for the block or not having the knees bent or not stepping that pressure on the edge, I’ll let them know that a defender might pull them by or just run right around them,” Osemele said. “Basically I just try to lead them with experience.”