Cliff: Spring Day 13

Colorado coach Dan Hawkins hung around with the Oregon State football team Monday. He was there observing to see how he can improve his program.

Hawkins sat in on meetings and practice. This is a common thing for coaches who have finished with spring practice earlier in the year.

The NCAA has a rule that doesn’t allow head coaches to visit recruits in April/May. That leads to these visits.

“We’ve become friends over the years,” coach Mike Riley said. “So he’s using it as research. It’s more philosophical.”

Riley can’t visit colleges because when spring practice is over in Corvallis, all the rest of the teams have finished, too.

“I try to do it a lot, but I’ll do it at an NFL mini camp,” Riley said.

Practice started outdoors in Reser Stadium, but after the special teams work the Beavers scurried inside to avoid the rain.

“I got worried,” Riley said. “Since we were in shorts today, I felt that once we got the punting done outdoors it was a good time to come indoors.”

The Beavers practiced in helmets with no pads. By rule, three spring practices have to be without pads. This was No. 3. The first two were the first two days.

The highlight of the workout was the 2-minute drill. The DBs were on fire with seven INTs.

S Anthony Watkins and S Lance Mitchell had two picks each. CB Jordan Poyer, S Dax Dilbeck and CB Rashaad Reynolds had one each. Two came on Hail Mary situations.

QB Ryan Katz looked the best of the group, while Peter Lalich and Cody Vaz struggled.

“It depends on the group,” Riley said of his offense’s success. “Ryan Katz had one of the best ones ever. But there was definitely a lot of give and take.”

TE Joe Halahuni (ankle) watched practice, resting his injury from Friday. Riley hopes he’s back Wednesday. OLB Keo Camat (sick) wasn’t at practice.