Slate: Top 25’s and Practice Notes

It’s all football news today, so lets get right to it.

First up, if you didn’t catch it this morning, the very first SBNation FanPulse Top 25 poll was released this morning, and the voters here at BotC were pretty in-line with the national consensus. And there’s still time for you to get signed up if you want to participate!

BracketCat is also back after some technical difficulties and getting caught back up on the countdown. He jumped to #18’s (all walk-ons) DB Jay Crayton, P/K Andrew Hicks, and WR Eric Hommel yesterday, while getting #17 QB Nick Ast and #24 minus 7 DB Brock Monty today.

There was another open practice earlier this week, which means more practice notes from all around (I don’t know about you, but I’m still getting used to this whole “we get to see some practices” thing. Crazy world we’re living in now...). Kellis gets us a look at senior tackle Nick Kaltmayer, who is ready and unafraid to replace Dalton Risner at right tackle. Kellis also gives us an explainer on a strange sight at practice, QB’s taking hits and getting physical. Ryan Black at the Mercury took a look at the linebacker corps, a unit that “can be a great group” assuming they can avoid the injury bug. Ryan’s newer co-worker at the Mercury, Sean Collins, wrote about the running back group, a unit that will likely see a “committee” approach this season (and moving forward).