STARS OF 2008:

LB Brian Toal -- He made the decision to rehab his shoulder last year and should return healthier than he's been.

LB Mark Herzlich -- Still just a junior-to-be, this guy is just a player. He was second on the team with 97 tackles last year and just seems to make big plays when they're needed.

WRs Brandon Robinson and Rich Gunnell -- Two big-time players who truly emerged last season.

TE Ryan Purvis -- Really developed into a top-flight player working with Matt Ryan last year.

TOP NEWCOMERS

QB Codi Boek -- Injury and family illness have put the brakes on Boek's college career, to this point.

RB Josh Haden -- With no experienced RB coming back, Haden, who was in spring camp, appeared to have the inside track on the starting job in the fall.

RB Jerry Kelly -- A late addition to the incoming class, he is labeled as a bruising runner.

OL Mike Goodman -- A four-star recruit who weighs in at 6-5, 270 pounds as the Eagles look to continue their offensive line tradition. He was rated as the No. 2 pass blocker by Rivals.com.

DB Okechuckwu Okoraha -- The safety with the great name made DC All-Metro as a senior and was ranked as the No. 17 safety overall by Rivals, which had him with the No. 4 ball skills.

ROSTER REPORT

--DT B.J. Raji and WR Brandon Robinson were out of spring practice after undergoing shoulder surgery.

--TE Jordan McMichael had surgery on both hips and was expected back in the fall.

--T Anthony Costanzo, who started all 14 games at right tackle as a freshman last year, gets his shot on the left side with Gosder Cherilus gone.

--G Clif Ramsey has moved from the right side to the left.

--FB Adam Newman has moved to defensive end.

--DL Thomas Claiborne has moved to right guard, where he is listed as the starter.

--A key to the success of the 2008 Eagles is the comeback of LB Brian Toal, who has just missed too much time after coming in as one of the program's top recruits EVER.

--RBs Jeff Smith (concussion) and A.J. Brooks (discipline problems at the end of the season) were both off the roster but both enrolled in school.

--K Billy Bennett was plagued by back problems all season but there were no signs he wouldn't be able to play in the spring.

--Incoming QB Codi Boek might petition for another year after breaking his left arm in the third game of his junior college season.

Boek and three others on the recruit list were already in school, including RB Josh Haden.

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