Those who attend Oklahoma’s defensive ends meetings know they’re playing in a cut-throat world. Every practice, meeting or scrimmage is a chance to move up or down the depth chart.

“That’s why I like OU; you have to compete for your job,” defensive end Jeremy Beal said.

But how much competition can there be when both projected starters — Auston English and John Williams — are being held out of spring practices with injuries.

Plenty.

Beal learned firsthand last season how critical depth can be at the spot.

He was just a guy make the transition from linebacker last season and was a likely candidate to spend most of it sitting on the bench. Then Williams was lost for the season to injury and English was out for several games late in the season.

By the time the Big 12 championship game rolled around, Beal was a starter.

“It was weird, but you have to expect that,” he said. “(Defensive ends coach Chris Wilson) always tells us to practice like you’re a starter and expect to play. When it came I was ready for the opportunity.”

Finding out who’s next in line is the big focus this spring. The Sooners currently have four defensive ends going through spring practice. Beal and Alan Davis worked mostly with the first team in last week’s first spring scrimmage. Freshman Frank Alexander and sophomore Pryce Macon worked with the second team.

But things can always change. That’s what scrimmages like today at 1 p.m. at Owen Field and practices are for.

“Those guys are doing well,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “Jeremy Beal continues to come on and is exciting to watch. He made a bunch of plays out there today. Frank Alexander has come along and done a lot of good things. The guys you really need to get the snaps are getting them.

“We’ve had John Williams and Auston for a long time do well for us. In the end, this will be beneficial for these guys.”

Alexander could be the next defensive end poised for a breakout year. He redshirted last season, but has put on nearly 20 pounds since he first arrived and had a sack in last week’s scrimmage.

“Coach said if you have a position, it can be gone that same day if you don’t play hard or smart. He told me to get back into the playbook and learn the plays. I’m on the field right now, but it can be taken just like that.”

That’s life for an OU defensive end.