Western Carolina
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina returned to the turf of E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field on a hot and muggy Friday morning for the ninth practice session of the 2013 preseason, the first of two sessions scheduled for the end of the first full week of camp. The squad worked through 17 periods in full pads, completing practice with wind sprints for conditioning.
WCU’s practice included a lot of position and unit work, taking the classroom and walk-thru install sessions to the field at full speed. There were several competitive situations including 7-on-7 drills pitting the wide receivers and running backs against the defensive secondary and linebackers.
With extra wind sprints on the line, practice concluded with a situational scrimmage with a third-down and eight yards to go scenario. Despite a couple of good opportunities to move the chains by the offense, the defensive unit held and was rewarded with fewer reps of conditioning.
According to the WCU Sports Medicine staff, injuries have started to take their toll as preseason practice completes its first full week. On Friday, a total of five players were completely held out of the morning fully-padded session with 10 others limited in drills they could participate in and were restricted from being in full pads.
A total of five quarterbacks continue to split reps with redshirt junior Eddie Sullivan and sophomore Troy Mitchell seeing the bulk of the reps. The two continue to rotate practice sessions with the first team with Sullivan running with the first string on Friday morning. Redshirt sophomore Jawan Simmons, redshirt freshman Jonah Duggan and true freshman Josh Phipps also saw time at quarterback.
Elsewhere on offense, five running backs continue to split rotations with sophomore Darius Ramsey and junior Shaun Warren splitting most of the reps while converted wide out, David Giron, redshirt freshman C.J. Goodman and freshman Garry Lewis also taking snaps in the backfield. Goodman was held out on Friday.
Likewise is the case for the WCU receiving corps., as returners like juniors Karnorris Benson, Garrett Brown and Jeff Moore, splitting rotations with redshirt sophomore Tyler Klipa who is returning from a knee injury. Freshman – and local product from Hendersonville – Steffon Hill, continues to work into the rotation, as does his classmates Terryon Robinson and Willie Police, who was limited during Friday morning’s session. Redshirt freshman Seth Curtis continues to progress, hauling in several difficult passes during the 7-on-7 drill, as did transfer John Sullivan.
Defensively, the Catamounts continue to rotate both linemen and defensive backs between the first and second string, working the younger players in with the veterans. Sophomores Caleb Hawkins and John McBeth continue to impress during camp, as does senior Brian Johnson who has become a leader along the front line. Redshirt senior Andre Shishkin, returning from elbow surgery that sidelined him in 2012, was limited on Friday morning but is expected to participate in Saturday’s scrimmage.
Senior linebacker Marcus Stokes, who is returning from a knee injury suffered during spring drills, remained out of action as he has yet to be cleared for practice. Freshman Tommy Tate was held out after twisting a knee during Thursday’s practice.
During his post-practice remarks, WCU second-year head coach Mark Speir complimented his players on their effort thus far during preseason, but reminded the squad that the intensity and preparations needed to be taken to the next level as camp progresses.
“We’re anticipating our first scrimmage on Saturday. We’ll have SoCon officials on the field and are looking forward to having Catamount Club members, as well as fans, in the stands here in Cullowhee,” said Speir. “We have altered our Friday schedule some in preparation for our scrimmage on Saturday with plans of running well over 100-plays. It’s going to be hot, upbeat and intense. I can’t wait to see how our guys compete on Saturday afternoon.”
Among the spectators during Friday’s first practice was former Western Carolina offensive lineman, Dan Best (1995-98). Best was a two-time All-Southern Conference selection in 1997 and ’98, earning first team plaudits during his senior season. He was later signed by the Carolina Panthers, spending two seasons with the NFL squad.
Best – who was the first-ever player current head coach Mark Speir recruited to WCU – watched practice with his family and was introduced to the team at the end of practice. A man of few words but who led by example during his playing career in Cullowhee, Best addressed the team with the simple mantra – “leave it all on the field.”
Appalachian State
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University football held its second two-a-day practices of fall camp on Friday with a morning session at Kidd Brewer Stadium and an afternoon workout in the Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility.
With a grueling intrasquad scrimmage on tap for Saturday, Friday’s morning practice was conducted in full pads while the Mountaineers wore helmets and shorts and, for the first time since last Saturday, had no contact during the afternoon workout.
Like Thursday, Friday’s two-hour morning session featured 11-on-11 two-minute drills to wrap up the practice. The offense took the ball at the defense’s 47 yard line with 38 seconds left to play in Friday’s late-game simulation. Despite quarterback Jamal Londry-Jackson converting a fourth-and-10 play with a 14-yard run, Chris Shaffer’s sack three snaps later ended the first “game” in favor of the defense. On the final series, backup quarterback Kameron Bryant completed passes of 10 and eight yards to true freshman Dante Jones and found Mo Gore for an eight-yard gain to set up a 46-yard game-winning field goal by Drew Stewart.
The afternoon workout was moved indoors due to heavy rain in the High Country and was dedicated almost entirely to special teams. The Mountaineers ran through every special-teams discipline during the hour-and-15-minute practice.
Samford
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The Samford football team practiced for about two hours in full pads Friday afternoon at Seibert Stadium. The practice was the final tune-up for the first scrimmage of fall camp, which will be held Saturday morning.
The Samford defense has to replace six starters from last season, but one of the most experienced areas of the team is the secondary. Cornerbacks Coach Sam Shade said his group has gotten fall camp off to a good start.
“Things are going pretty well,” Shade said. “For the most part, we’re healthy. We have seven guys, and we’re just trying to stay healthy and get better each day.”
Both starting cornerbacks return from last season’s team. Shade said that experience has been a blessing so far during fall camp.
“James Bradberry came in last year and did a really good job and was a big surprise for us, coming in as a transfer,” Shade said. “He did a great job and started every game. So, now with him coming back, and also having Tae Lewis on one side and Brandon Nettles, who has also played a lot of football for us, we feel like we have three guys with a lot of experience there.”
The Bulldogs have a couple of newcomers at corner as well. Shade said he likes the progress the younger members of the group have shown.
“Denzel Williams had a really good spring for us,” Shade said. “He came a long way in the spring and he’s just kind of picked up where he left off. He is a physical guy who could probably play safety, but is playing corner for us. Also, we have Bruce Greer. Bruce didn’t play a lot last year, except for on special teams, but we are looking for him to take some steps this season as well.”
Georgia Southern
STATESBORO, Ga. – When the Eagles kickoff the 2013 season in just a few weeks, Georgia Southern Coach Jeff Monken wants to make sure his team has made the best use of its practice time. That time, in five-minute increments counted off on the clock, will come and go, but his concern lies squarely with what is happening, or not happening. Preseason camp is all about preparation and learning – on and off the field -- and executing when the ball is snapped.
“After yesterday’s film, I know we have a lot of improvements to make, we have a long way to go if we are going to be ready to play,” said Georgia Southern Head Coach Jeff Monken. “There were some good individual efforts and there some good plays, but not enough. Hopefully, this morning was better. Hopefully, the guys came up with a better sense of urgency.”
Georgia Southern worked for 20 periods Friday beginning with special teams and position drills. The offense and defense squared off against each other in the interaction periods. Monken and the Eagle coaching staff still want to see the tempo and intensity improve during practice.
“I believe in fundamentals and toughness and effort,” Monken said. “I told our coaches this morning and talked to the kids in our team meeting before we came out about how we needed to push it during individual time. We need to get more reps, and really get some quality reps, doing the things, blocking, playing the blocks, taking care of the ball, tackling, all the things important to being a good football team.”