Springtime is here, and Cal defensive coordinator Bob Gregory is already fending off the leeches.

Which starters are set in stone?

Tell us who the starters are.

Tell us who has a job.

"You want to know that?" Gregory joked. "You know who they are-Syd (Thompson) is in good shape, Tyson (Alualu) is in good shape, I think Mike Mohamed is in good shape. Cameron Jordan had a really good spring."

Thompson and Alualu are proven goods at corner and defensive end, which we already knew.

Mohamed and Jordan are emerging stars at linebacker and defensive end, too. Both started in portions of the 2008 season and pitched in a combined seven sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Both will surely start a full season for the first time in their careers.

"(Jordan) has a chance to be very good," Gregory said when asked about the defensive end's potential. "I think he had a very good spring. He practiced hard in the spring ... He played the run better. Every defensive end wants to rush the quarterback. It's natural. But he's learned to become a better defensive run player."

Outside the veteran handful, competition remains wide open for the rest of the spots.

Gregory said that Derrick Hill-who didn't participate in spring practices due to a knee injury-Kendrick Payne and Aaron Tipoti will continue competing for the starting job at nose tackle.

At linebacker, rising sophomore Mychal Kendricks will move inside, while Devin Bishop has found a home on the outside. Freshman Chris Little seemed to rise above his antics in Saturday's open spring practice, notching several sacks among numerous stops, though Gregory noted that the converted linebacker isn't "quite ready yet."

Heralded junior transfers Jarred Price and Ryan Davis will further cloud the picture, not to mention returning part-time starter Eddie Young, who posted 40 tackles in 2008.

"All of those guys are gonna play," Gregory said of the players in-waiting for a starting role.

The picture doesn't get any clearer in the secondary.

One would expect Darian Hagan to claim a spot opposite Thompson at corner, but the rising redshirt junior hasn't been practicing with the team due to academic issues. And he'll have plenty of competition once fall camp rolls around.

Although Gregory said that junior Chris Conte will likely begin the 2009 season seeing time at both cornerback and safety, Conte is still a prime candidate to reclaim a starting role at corner, and coaches have been very high on redshirt freshmen Marc Anthony and Josh Hill as well.

Both Anthony and Hill will likely see a lot of playing time in 2009, though it might be a stretch for them early on to supplant Hagan from what was his role in 2008. Conte's fate may also depend on how the young corners evolve, according to Gregory.

"I think after this spring, (Saturday's scrimmage) and watching the tape, I think Josh Hill might have a little bit of an edge (over Anthony)," Gregory said. "But those are very close, too. Marc had a good spring. I think Josh made a few more plays, and we also played Josh in our second nickel position behind Syd, too, so he had a few more opportunities as well."

And don't even get started with the safeties.

Gregory refused to name a starter, though rising senior Marcus Ezeff, whom Gregory named as the most consistent of the bunch, might have a silent claim on the job.

Sean Cattouse notched an interception in Saturday's scrimmage, continuing to display the ball-hawking skills that netted him three picks in 2008, putting him in a tie for the second-highest total on the team.

"I think (Cattouse) had a good spring," Gregory said. "Progressed well and was able to really sink his teeth into playing safety. He's still a young guy. I keep thinking he's a veteran, but he's still a young guy, too."

Brett Johnson, also a rising senior, remains in the picture as well. But as mentioned earlier, Conte will also get a shot at safety, and Gregory said that he was happy with what Conte showed at playing center field before he went down with a concussion.

"I think it's really a three-way deal," Gregory said of Cal's mix at safety. "Sean, Brett and Marcus. I think it's those three guys.

"They just have to continue to improve in everything they do. It's hard to say that if you just do this one thing (you'd be named the starter). It's really how you play the run, how you see things, how you play the pass, open-space tackling obviously for safeties is big ... They're all close. All three are gonna play, there's no doubt about that."

Tags: CAMERON JORDAN, BOB GREGORY, TYSON ALUALU, SYD'QUAN THOMPSON, CAL FOOTBALL