Oregon State defensive back Alton Julian (7) reacts during a game against Hawaii at Reser Stadium in Corvallis last season.

Oregon State made the official transition from preseason camp to Boise State game week practices Friday. That’s the extent of the clarity, as coach Jonathan Smith decided to wait a few more days to reveal starters for the Sept. 3 opener against the Broncos at Reser Stadium.

In no hurry to give Boise State a heads up on personnel, Smith said he would announce the starters and a depth chart at his weekly Monday news conference. Of most interest is the Beavers’ starting quarterback, which is expected to be junior Chance Nolan.

Smith knows who will start at quarterback, and so do the players.

“It’s such a team game. I get the quarterback interest. I mean, I played quarterback. But there’s a bunch of starters, and we’ll announce them on Monday,” Smith said.

The official depth chart is likely to include several positions where more than one player is listed as the starter. Smith said it’s not entirely meant to be deceptive. Several position battles figure to continue into next week, including running back, defensive line, outside linebacker and safety. There are also scheme situations to consider that might favor one player over another.

This much is certain: This is the healthiest team Smith has taken into the regular season during his five-year tenure. The only players among those potentially in the two-deep for Boise State who won’t play are defensive end Ryan Franke and defensive lineman Sione Lolohea. Franke is out for the season with a knee injury, while an unspecified injury caused Lolohea to miss most of the August practices.

Even safety Alton Julian, sidelined for the second half of the 2021 season with an ACL tear, could play against Boise State. He took part in what Smith said were “a bunch of reps” during Friday’s practice.

Aye, aye captain (times 6): When OSU team captains were revealed earlier this week, the list expanded from the usual four to six. Smith said it was a simple decision, as there was clear separation among the top six vote getters. Votes came from the team’s players.

Smith was impressed that 27 different players received at least one vote. “You talk again, the influence of a bunch of leaders on this team,” Smith said.

Five of the six captains are seniors, and there are three from each side of the ball: quarterback Tristan Gebbia, offensive linemen Brandon Kipper and Jake Levengood, safety Jaydon Grant, and inside linebackers Kyrei Fisher-Morris and Omar Speights. In addition, an honorary captain will be named each game week.

Only four of the six captains, plus the honorary, can walk out to midfield for the coin toss. They’ll decide on a rotating basis who makes the walk each game.

The six captains alone won’t patrol the team. Oregon State is as veteran as it’s been under Smith, with 33 juniors and seniors on the roster. Even 14 sophomores enter their fourth year in the program.

It’s very much a player-led program.

“I don’t feel like I have to continue to have a bunch of consequences-type thing. If we have any issues or something can be done better, it starts with those guys speaking into it, and it gets squashed,” Smith said. “And you give them some more freedom, too. I’m not just overly coaching everything when you hear captains and older guys’ voices on the practice field. It’s a great thing.”

Freshmen to play: Freshman running back Damien Martinez is certain to see action early this season, but Smith has hopes for a couple other first-year players in tight end Jack Veiling and offensive lineman Dylan Lopez. Smith said he didn’t know if Veiling would play every game, and that Lopez would be ready as a backup.

Colletto time: One of the busiest players on Oregon State’s roster this season won’t be a starter. Senior Jack Colletto is likely to be listed on the first depth chart as second string at inside linebacker. But he’ll also get plenty of work on offense as a short yardage Wildcat quarterback and perhaps other positions. He’s also a member of kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return teams.

Smith said he thought because they plan to rotate more players at inside linebacker this season, Colletto’s time on each side of the ball would be close to equal.

Acclimating to Reser renovations: Oregon State has held several practices this month in Reser Stadium, which is undergoing a $161 million remodel to its west side. For the 2022 season, fans will be seated on the east side, plus end zones as the west side is under construction.

Smith said there have been some adjustments. The lighting is a little different, which he says is a factor for those catching kickoffs and punts. With the old west grandstands gone, Smith said wind is slightly different. Coaches will call games from a different vantage point, as the temporary press box is decidedly lower than the previous Reser location.

But the first real test comes Sept. 3.

“I think we have to kind of experience it to see if it’s a whole lot different with people in the stadium,” Smith said.