The Oakland University Club football team is gearing up for the upcoming season.

New head coach Chris Pickney is already evaluating team members and installing his new style to the team as he tries to build off last year’s success.

“Everything is too early to tell, but one thing I can tell is this team is going to have a phenomenal work aspect to it,” Pickney said.

Although the team has some returning starters, Pickney wants people to earn their positions on the field.

“Every position as of right now is wide open,” he said. “It’s on a competition base as of each practice, so those guys will be earning their positions.”

A quarterback last season, Brandon Tucker looks to be moving to wide receiver, where he was named all-state in high school.

In high school, Tucker was a receiver for Justin Mills, whom may be the quarterback for this year’s squad. Tucker kept  reaching out to Mills this off-season to convince him to play this year.  

“We started right where we left off in high school,” Tucker said. “We clicked, and we know our routes, where to go, where to run, when to stop, we’re on that page.”

Pickney plans to run a spread-option offense, similar to that of the Oregon Ducks. Players like Tucker believe this plays to their talents.

“Oh yeah, for sure, most definitely,” Tucker said. “We’re going to be a high-powered offense, and I think it’s going to be hard to stop us.”

The speed of the offense is sure to increase from last year, and on the defensive side of the ball, Pickney will have a multi-faceted approach, saying the team will move from 4-3 to 3-4, and even some 3-3-5.

One of the bigger losses for the team’s defense will be linebacker Nick Taylor, who also saw time at running back.

Running back Marc Wise is another key player returning for a second year.

“We should be pretty good, because we’re comfortable in this offense, it’s not really a change,” Wise said. “All the other teams should be ready.”

Contact Staff Reporter Matt Saulino at [email protected].