When left tackle Jason Boone went down with season-ending knee injury in camp, it left a considerable void in Utah's offensive line.
So big, in fact, that it took Zane Beadles to fill it.
The 6-foot-4, 312-pound sophomore, who started 12 games at left guard last season, volunteered to fill the vacancy one spot over.
"I went to Coach (Charlie) Dickey and I just told him that if something has to happen, I'm more than willing to play left tackle," Beadles said. "If that was the best fit for the team."
Turns out, it was.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said it was just what Dickey had in mind.
"Zane Beadles is great," Whittingham added. "He'll do whatever we ask of him."
The former Hillcrest High star is scheduled to start at left tackle in Thursday's season opener at Oregon State. Junior Corey Seiuli will replace Beadles at left guard.
"The o-line is solidified," said Whittingham, who noted that both players are doing well in their starting roles — meshing nicely with center Kyle Gunther, right guard Robert Conley and right tackle Dustin Hensel.
"Those guys are finally starting to gel," said quarterback Brian Johnson. "It's not easy by any means. That has to be the most solid and core nucleus of what we do offensively. They're doing a nice job. I don't think you could ask for more."
The line, he continued, is doing what it takes to be successful.
Losing Boone, an all-conference candidate and fifth-year senior, hasn't been easy — especially for Beadles.
"Jason is one of my best friends. He's a great guy and a great player," said Beadles, who acknowledged it's kind of like starting over in some ways. "But I'm feeling good now."
Boone, who recently underwent successful surgery on his torn ACL, is confident Beadles can step in and get the job done at left tackle.
It's not a new position for Beadles.
"I played tackle in high school so I'm kind of drawing off some experience from that," he said. "I know the offense well. So it's just a matter of reps and getting comfortable with that spot."
As for the starting line as a whole, Beadles is confident things will work out just fine in the trenches.
"We've got great players," he said. "We're all friends and we all play well together. It shouldn't be a problem at all."
EXTRA POINTS: Whittingham said the Utes had a good practice Saturday morning, the last day in full pads ... The team joined Utah's 17 other sports team at the eighth annual Crimson Club Fan Fest at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The players signed autographs, posed for pictures and mingled with fans ... The Utes resume practice on Monday and will leave for Thursday's opener in Corvallis, Ore., on Wednesday.
Season opener
Utah at Oregon St.
Thursday, 8 p.m. (MT)
TV: FSN Utah Radio: 700AM
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com