Alex Tecza doesn’t need to prove anything this spring. The rising senior fullback was an All-East selection, the team’s second-leading rusher, and a major part of the program’s offensive resurgence in 2024. So while he's practicing, he’s doing so on a lighter workload, making room for a new wave of fullbacks to get their shot.

“Talking to Coach Jasper the other day, it's definitely going to be a lighter spring for me,” Tecza said. “And I think that's definitely a smart move. It's obviously hard for me. When I'm out there practicing, I want to get out there and get the ball and run around with the other guys. But I’m really just focusing on that leadership aspect of the game.”

But giving up reps on the field doesn’t mean he’s easing off. Instead, it’s allowed him to prioritize the mental side of the game to gain a broader understanding of the offense. A better grasp of the big picture may even open the door to utilizing his versatility.

“I really want to learn more of the offense, learn what the line's doing, what Blake [Horvath]'s thinking, what the receivers’ landmarks are, where the snipes are, what leverage they're getting, things like that,” he said. “Hopefully, I can maybe shift around to a couple positions, maybe play some slotback, who knows, maybe Wildcat. That'd be pretty fun.”

While Tecza explores the playbook, the rest of the B-back room is fighting for position behind him. Quarterbacks and fullbacks coach Ivin Jasper didn’t sugarcoat the challenge.

“You have to rebuild that position a little bit with Daba [Fofana],” Jasper said. “He's the other guy that got a lot of reps last year. I mean, who is showing you something that they could join Alex and maybe take some game repetitions come fall?”

Early in camp, it's Vic Listorti who has answered the call.

“He's really come on now,” Jasper said. “He was at snipe, and we had a good talk. He said things kind of move a little too fast for him there. And being here at B-back, I wouldn't say it's a lot easier, but it is more of his style of play.”

While Jasper pointed out that Listorti isn't a complete player yet, he believes the physical tools are all there.

“He's a good football player," Jasper said. "He's an explosive kid, he's a fast kid, he can catch the ball. He's got a lot of the same tools that Alex has. He has to learn the position and be more physical. Today he found out that's something that he's really going to struggle with right now.”

On the other hand, Listorti’s speed has already made an impression.

“He’s the one kid that hit 20 miles an hour on GPS the other day,” Jasper added. “He’s explosive, can catch the ball, and change direction well. He has all the tools.”

Tecza sees it, too.

“He's been doing a great job this spring,” he said of Listorti. “He had some fire before spring break and he's learning. He was a B-back coming in. They moved him back to slot and then they moved him back to B-back. So he's figuring it out and trying to work with him.”

Alongside Listorti, Jasper also highlighted Aydin Woolfolk and William Ingle as players getting meaningful reps.

“Woolfolk, another guy that was up there with us last year that got some reps last year in games,” Jasper said. “Right now those two guys are ones that we're kind of focusing on, and William Ingle’s another one. Just want to get William back to being what he was last spring at this time.”

Ingle’s spring last year caught Jasper’s eye as he made plays both at fullback and filling in at quarterback. However, off-field issues have slowed his development.

“He was very productive,” Jasper said. “He just made plays. He's had some personal issues going on off the field that kind of affected his play. He's just trying to put that all behind him right now.”

Another name to watch is Shane Reynolds, who brings experience and versatility to the room. Reynolds is still listed at fullback, but he played a hybrid role late last season, bringing a stronger blocking presence on the edge. The coaches liked what they saw and want to build on it.

“Shane Reynolds played some for us last year, but we're looking at Shane as being more a versatile player for us,” Jasper said. “Being able to do some things at B-back but also playing some snipe for us. Being a bigger body, being able to block people for us and not sending our little guys in there to block linebackers.”

Tecza also appreciates what Reynolds brings to the running game.

“It's hard, and I love [Brendan] Chat to death, but he's a buck-seventy and it's hard for him to load the backers we play against,” he said. “And so having Shane in there, a bigger body, he's probably what, 225, one of the strongest kids I've ever seen.”

That strength comes from his effort in the weight room.

“He's lifting with Landon Robinson, who's 300 pounds and squats 700," Tecza said. "And so he's lifting with Landon and he's a freak, just unreal in the weight room. Super strong kid. He's fast, one of the fastest on the team.”

As Jasper put it, the fullback room is full of “good football players.” Their next step is to learn what to do when they don't have the ball.

“They all need to be better pass blockers and be better players without the ball in their hands,” he said. “They're all running backs, they're all great players when the ball’s in their hands. But without the football, that's their main thing right now. Blocking, playing with a great effort, getting downfield.”

While there’s still plenty to sort out in the fullback room, Tecza's stability at the top of the depth chart creates opportunities for the rest of the group to get meaningful reps and keep learning. And that's the way Jasper likes it.

“That’s what spring is all about, trying to build depth and find answers to your questions.”

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