Now that the UA men's basketball team has finished its run at the NCAA title, eyes will once again focus on their football counterparts.

With spring practice beginning this afternoon, the coaching staff will begin to address the many mysteries surrounding the starting lineup.

"Our objectives in the spring are pretty much the same as in previous years," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "We want to establish a certain fundamental base, evaluate our personnel and establish a good work ethic."

With the departure of quarterback Dan White, strong safety Brandon Sanders, and defensive linemen Tedy Bruschi and Chuck Osborne to graduation, the Wildcats are searching to fill some holes in key areas.

The most prominent of these slots will be quarterback and defensive line. The front-runners for the quarterback position will be sophomore incumbent Brady Batten (6-foot-2, 212 pounds) and redshirt freshman Keith Smith (5-10, 185). Smith impressed coaches on the practice field during his redshirt year, but Batten has the on-field experience. On 60 attempts last season, Batten completed 26 (43 percent) for 362 yards and three touchdowns.

On defensive line, junior Joe Salave'a (6-4, 270) and sophomore Jimmy Sprotte (6-2, 250) will be the two starters returning, with a couple of last season's reserves € redshirt freshman Daniel Greer (6-2, 245) and junior Chato Jackson (6-0, 228) € appearing to fill in the other two spots. But while Bruschi and Osborne combined for 21.5 sacks last season, Salave'a and Sprotte only managed one between them. Arizona will have to find a way to get more pressure on the quarterback. If redshirt freshman Ralph Perez (6-1, 244), junior Beau Ralphs (6-2, 251) or junior college transfers Steve Tafua (6-4, 280) and Joseph Tafoya (6-4, 220) make a good impression, they might also figure into the defensive line picture.

"Just because someone played in a position last year doesn't mean that they will start next season," Tomey said. "As a coaching staff, we have to make sure we take everyone into account when selecting who will play."

One final area of concern in this year's camp will be the running back position. Although junior Gary Taylor (5-11, 194) received a bulk of the time last season, Arizona recruited high school Parade All-American Leon Callen (5-10, 180) in hopes of improving its speed at the tailback spot. Taylor rushed for 714 yards, averaging four yards a carry, but only reached the end zone twice. Callen did not have a problem finding the end zone at De La Salle (Pittsburg, Calif.) High School, as he rushed for 2,049 yards and 30 touchdowns. Notre Dame transfer Leon Blunt, freshman Scooter Sprotte (103 yards on 19 carries), and sophomores Robbie Glanton (26 yards on 7 carries) and Kevin Schmidtke (203 yards on 77 carries) will also be fighting for playing time.

"Right now we really have questions at every position," Tomey said. "We'll use the spring as an opportunity to take a good look at everybody."