You can’t go to a Georgia Southern practice without hearing the word “new” -- new offense, new defense, new coaches, new players and new positions, just to name a few.

            Safety Derek Heyden and cornerbacks Laron Scott and Carson Hill have had a bird’s-eye view of all the changes from the secondary and are some of the few veterans who actually are playing a position they’re used to.

            “I’m glad,” said Hill, who sat out 2009 but has played the same position since becoming an Eagle in 2006. “I don’t see anywhere else I could play -- except kicker. That’s the easiest job.”

            While the trio has gotten much-needed experience with GSU’s defense, the newly-installed triple-option offense has changed the way they play the game.

            “You’ve got to adapt and run to the ball,” said Heyden, a junior. “You can’t over think. You’ve still got to be able to make plays and be an athlete. There’s a few reads, but we’re pass players first, and when it’s the option we’re running alleys.”

            As for the cornerbacks, they have to fight through their share of cut blocks but still need to be able to cover receivers.

            Scott is glad to have Hill back on the other side of the field, and he thinks the opposing quarterbacks might not feel the same way.

            “Now they have nowhere to go,” laughed Scott. “Teams try to go away from certain things, but, I mean, where are they going to go now?”

On a serious note, “We just try to do our job -- give the d-line enough time to get (to the quarterback).”

            Regardless of the offense they’re facing, corners will always find themselves in one-on-one coverage with wide receivers.

            “I love the challenge,” Scott said. “There’s a receiver in front of you saying he’s going to beat you. You’re saying you’re going to get him. There’s nobody out there but you two, so you’re going to see who’s the better man.”

            “All eyes are on you,” added Hill. “If you make a great play, everybody sees it. If you make a bad play, everybody sees it. You’ve just got to keep your composure, do your assignment and use your technique. Do what your coaches taught you.”

            With so many new players in so many positions, depth could be an issue for the 2010 Eagles. The defense returns 11 players with starting experience, but several freshmen -- including Josh Gebhardt on the defensive line and Lavelle Westbrooks and Javonte Martin at corner -- have turned some heads.

            “Experience always wins out,” said first-year coach Jeff Monken. “If everything is even, it’s hard to beat out a guy that has game experience. But if some of those younger guys are running better or are more athletic, we’ll find a place for them to play.”

            Junior safety-turned-corner Hudson Presume suffered injury during summer workouts, but with him, Westbrooks and Martin backing up Scott and Hill, cornerback could be one position in good hands from top to bottom.

            Maybe.

            “If you ask me that question four weeks into the season, I’ll let you know then,” laughed cornerbacks coach Orlando Mitjans. “To be honest, that’s what camp is about -- trying to build depth. Westbrooks showing well in camp is adding to that depth. Javonte Martin is adding to the depth. Presume playing well in camp and getting healthy is adding to our depth. To answer the question, if they’re ready to roll come September fourth, we’ll have depth.”

            The Eagles practiced the last two-a-day of fall camp Wednesday, and return for a single practice today at 2:45 p.m. at Beautiful Eagle Creek.

            Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9408.