Miami University’s summer football practice is right around the corner. Don Treadwell can’t wait to get there.

Treadwell will begin his second season at the MU helm with high hopes and 17 returning starters (15 position players and two kickers) as the RedHawks look to improve on their 4-8 record of 2011.

“It’s nice to have a year under your belt and not have so much newness,” Treadwell said. “The longer you’re together as a staff and with your student-athletes, the better understanding and appreciation you’ll have for what you’re doing and where you’re going.”

The players will report to Oxford on Aug. 2 and start practice the next day. The season opener is Sept. 1 at Ohio State.

Treadwell estimated that 60 to 80 percent of his players have been in and out of town this summer.

Miami’s two-deep lineup coming out of spring ball was filled with experience. Treadwell said the depth chart is very fluid and could change before practice starts, but for now, the only projected starter who didn’t letter last season is walk-on tailback Robert Williams III.

That position was a point of emphasis all spring. Adding to the uncertainty there were injuries to Justin Semmes and Spencer Treadwell, who are expected to be healthy for the start of practice, and the looming arrival of three standout freshmen: Jamire Westbrook, Jack Snowball and Spencer McInnis.

“We don’t want anyone to play at any position by default, so to speak,” Don Treadwell said. “So the jury is still out at the running back position.”

Two RedHawks are on national preseason watch lists: cornerback Dayonne Nunley (Jim Thorpe Award) and wide receiver Nick Harwell (Fred Biletnikoff Award). Quarterback Zac Dysert wasn’t on the Davey O’Brien Award watch list released Wednesday, despite ranking third in the country among active quarterbacks in career yards.

The Mid-American Conference had two QBs on the O’Brien list, Western Michigan’s Alex Carder and Ohio’s Tyler Tettleton. Both were on bowl teams a year ago, and Treadwell believes Miami’s sub-.500 campaign hampered Dysert’s O’Brien cause.

“Many times the kids on there also have a winning record behind them, and justifiably so,” Treadwell said. “Coming from the season we had, a lot of times these things are tied in.”

MAC Media Day is set for Tuesday morning at Ford Field in Detroit, and the preseason media poll will be released at that time. Treadwell said he’s not concerned about where the RedHawks land in that poll.

“We let the media have fun with that,” Treadwell said. “Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter to us if we’re ranked at the top or the bottom.”

Dysert and defensive tackle Austin Brown will join Treadwell at Media Day.