By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

OXFORD - Senior Will Rueff, a two-year starter at left defensive tackle, proved in Miami's annual spring game Saturday that he's ready to pick up the slack left by the graduation of ends Phil Smith and Will Stanley and of middle linebacker Terrell Jones.

The 6-foot-4, 276-pound fourth-year junior led the White defense's projected starting unit with six tackles. All of them were solo tackles, and they included four for losses that cost the Red team 19 yards. He was credited with two sacks for 15 yards.

Rueff had three tackles-for-losses and one sack last season.

"Rueff has had a great spring," RedHawks coach Terry Hoeppner said. "He's been incredible."

O-LINE ANSWERS: Miami's coaches also were faced with the task of replacing three starters on the offensive line, and Hoeppner was pleased with the progress displayed by three 6-foot-5 newcomers to the unit.

They are fourth-year junior tackle Dave Rehker, third-year sophomore guard Mark Kracium, and freshman tackle Charles Norden.

"Norden's where we want him to be right now," Hoeppner said. "He needs to play."

"You can't coach tall," Hoeppner added. "We need to keep developing our offensive line."

FRESH FACES: Freshman linebacker Clayton Mullins, who graduated from Fairborn High School near Dayton in December, also played for the White team and recorded four tackles.

"Mullins surprised me," Hoeppner said.

His White teammate, junior tight end and basketball forward Danny Horace, was the intended receiver on several passes and made two catches for 16 yards.

Horace also showed some blocking ability.

QUICK HITS: One week from being in New York for the NFL draft, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger attended the spring game. Before the game, he gave the fans on hand a past-and-future experience by tossing on the field with Jared Elliott, a quarterback from Tennessee who signed with Miami in February. ...

Fourth-year junior kicker Jared Parseghian performed one of the gunner roles for the White team's punt squad. Since none of the punts were returned, he wasn't expected to make a tackle. ...

Miami will soon be releasing a DVD of highlights from the 2003 season. The DVD, which is titled Love and Honor: A Tribute To A Storybook Season, will be given free to season-ticket holders who renew their tickets. It also will be for sale. The price has yet to be set.

MU vs. Big Ten

Miami's 2004 schedule isn't final, but the RedHawks are scheduled to open the season Sept. 4 at Michigan, the defending Big Ten champion. Miami is 4-12 against Big Ten teams since 1986, the last season it won a Mid-American Conference title before last season.

The results:

2003: Lost at Iowa 21-3; won at Northwestern 44-14

2002: Lost to Iowa 29-24

2001: Lost at Michigan 31-13; lost at Iowa 44-19

2000: Lost at Ohio State 27-16

1999: Won at Northwestern 28-3

1996: Lost at Indiana 21-14

1995: Won at Northwestern 30-28; lost at Michigan 38-19

1994: Lost at Indiana 35-14; lost at Michigan State 45-10*

1992: Lost at Indiana 16-0

1989: Lost at Purdue 27-10; lost at Michigan State 49-0

1988: Lost at Minnesota 35-3

* Michigan State forfeited the win due to the use of an ineligible player.