D
Derek Young
Guest
Not dressed: Justin Hughes, Brock Monty, Hayden Gillum, Shane Cherry, Chris Dugan, Phillip Brooks, Isaiah Zuber
Limited contact: Ekow Boye-Doe, Aidan Mills, Kyle Ball, Spencer Misko, Nick Lenners, Kevion McGee, Jahron McPherson, Elijah Sullivan, Daron Bowles
QUARTERBACK
Skylar Thompson was, unsurprisingly, with the first team the whole way through. The second quarterback was Nick Ast at times and John Holcombe at other times. Jaren Lewis and Ryan Henington were sprinkled in after that.
Although Thompson threw an interception during scrimmage action, Holcombe was the most prone to turnovers on the day. Lewis was another that was. The best arms on the team clearly belong to Thompson and Holcombe.
At times, it seemed like Holcombe was held back some. He took very few reps during 7v7 play.
RUNNING BACK
The two primary running backs on the day with the ones were James Gilbert and Harry Trotter. Although Tyler Burns is back, they were the unquestioned two at the top of the pecking order on the day. Gilbert was clearly ahead of Trotter, too. It was apparent again that they don't love their depth but are trying to develop it.
Tyler Burns was the third running back used.
FULLBACK
They honestly didn't use them a ton. Adam Harter played tight end with Blaise Gammon so he didn't man the spot during Saturday's play. Mason Barta and Kirk Coomes were probably the two used with any kind of regularity at all.
WIDE RECEIVER
Malik Knowles looked great when he ran his routes but it looked as if they are working him back slowly. He wasn't with the group all that often. The ones that appeared to run with the first unit the most were Chabastin Taylor, Dalton Schoen and Hunter Rison. Rison was the best of the three. Wykeen Gill would have been the fourth, while Knowles the fifth. Knowles should soar up the list the closer it gets to the fall.
A walk-on receiver that stood out was Seth Porter. He was open a lot and even scored a couple touchdowns on the day.
TIGHT END
I think Nick Lenners would have been the first tight end used but he wasn't today because he's still recovering from an injury. Blaise Gammon and Adam Harter split duties on the first team. Sammy Wheeler might have been the third one already, and chatter has been that he could be a surprise contributor at the spot already this year.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The first team from left to right was Scott Frantz, Josh Rivas, Adam Holtorf, Tyler Mitchell and Nick Kaltmayer. The only prime second-team members that emerged were Christian Duffie as a tackle, Aidan Mills as an interior lineman and Evan Curl as the center. In one-on-ones, Curl and Frantz shined well.
The offensive line, as a whole, handled themselves pretty well and were generally better in the one-on-one drills.
DEFENSIVE END
The starters were Wyatt Hubert and Reggie Walker. Their back-ups were Boom Massie and Spencer Trussell. Kyle Ball didn't play anything that involved any contact. Hubert was quite a problem for the offensive line throughout the day. Trussell had a couple good moments of his own.
In the one-on-one drills, Boom Massie had two consecutive strong reps against Kaitori Leveston.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
The starters were Trey Dishon and Joe Daves. The second-team consisted of Jordan Mittie and Drew Wiley. No other defensive tackles were pushing through. Joe Davies roughed up Josh Rivas more than once in the one-on-one drills. Mitte was probably ahead of Davies.
LINEBACKER
Elijah Sullivan and Da'Quan Patton were the two starters with Justin Hughes out. The base defense used was two linebackers on the field and five defensive backs. The second group of linebackers was Cody Fletcher and Daniel Green. No other linebackers seemed to be pushing for playing time at this point.
Sullivan looks to be as healthy as he said he was, despite having a red jersey on during practice.
CORNERBACK
The only player that was with the ones on nearly every rep was A.J. Parker. The rest was a mix between Walter Neil, Kevion McGee and Lance Robinson. Darreyl Patterson took second-team reps. Neil and McGee were used with the ones a touch more than Lance Robinson.
Neil didn't play any nickel during practice on Saturday. The nickel was primarily Jonathan Durham. Jonathan Alexander was another that played a little bit of nickel, but it was mostly Durham. Robinson and Neil played all of their time at cornerback.
SAFETY
The starting safeties, at this point, seem to be Wayne Jones and Denzel Goolsby. Jonathan Alexander was the third safety, while Jahron McPherson was the fourth safety. That is not much of a surprise since Jones has been raved about.
Interestingly, Marcus Hayes and D.J. Render did not play safety, but played cornerback. Hayes did switch back to safety for a little bit at the end of practice.
Limited contact: Ekow Boye-Doe, Aidan Mills, Kyle Ball, Spencer Misko, Nick Lenners, Kevion McGee, Jahron McPherson, Elijah Sullivan, Daron Bowles
QUARTERBACK
Skylar Thompson was, unsurprisingly, with the first team the whole way through. The second quarterback was Nick Ast at times and John Holcombe at other times. Jaren Lewis and Ryan Henington were sprinkled in after that.
Although Thompson threw an interception during scrimmage action, Holcombe was the most prone to turnovers on the day. Lewis was another that was. The best arms on the team clearly belong to Thompson and Holcombe.
At times, it seemed like Holcombe was held back some. He took very few reps during 7v7 play.
RUNNING BACK
The two primary running backs on the day with the ones were James Gilbert and Harry Trotter. Although Tyler Burns is back, they were the unquestioned two at the top of the pecking order on the day. Gilbert was clearly ahead of Trotter, too. It was apparent again that they don't love their depth but are trying to develop it.
Tyler Burns was the third running back used.
FULLBACK
They honestly didn't use them a ton. Adam Harter played tight end with Blaise Gammon so he didn't man the spot during Saturday's play. Mason Barta and Kirk Coomes were probably the two used with any kind of regularity at all.
WIDE RECEIVER
Malik Knowles looked great when he ran his routes but it looked as if they are working him back slowly. He wasn't with the group all that often. The ones that appeared to run with the first unit the most were Chabastin Taylor, Dalton Schoen and Hunter Rison. Rison was the best of the three. Wykeen Gill would have been the fourth, while Knowles the fifth. Knowles should soar up the list the closer it gets to the fall.
A walk-on receiver that stood out was Seth Porter. He was open a lot and even scored a couple touchdowns on the day.
TIGHT END
I think Nick Lenners would have been the first tight end used but he wasn't today because he's still recovering from an injury. Blaise Gammon and Adam Harter split duties on the first team. Sammy Wheeler might have been the third one already, and chatter has been that he could be a surprise contributor at the spot already this year.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The first team from left to right was Scott Frantz, Josh Rivas, Adam Holtorf, Tyler Mitchell and Nick Kaltmayer. The only prime second-team members that emerged were Christian Duffie as a tackle, Aidan Mills as an interior lineman and Evan Curl as the center. In one-on-ones, Curl and Frantz shined well.
The offensive line, as a whole, handled themselves pretty well and were generally better in the one-on-one drills.
DEFENSIVE END
The starters were Wyatt Hubert and Reggie Walker. Their back-ups were Boom Massie and Spencer Trussell. Kyle Ball didn't play anything that involved any contact. Hubert was quite a problem for the offensive line throughout the day. Trussell had a couple good moments of his own.
In the one-on-one drills, Boom Massie had two consecutive strong reps against Kaitori Leveston.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
The starters were Trey Dishon and Joe Daves. The second-team consisted of Jordan Mittie and Drew Wiley. No other defensive tackles were pushing through. Joe Davies roughed up Josh Rivas more than once in the one-on-one drills. Mitte was probably ahead of Davies.
LINEBACKER
Elijah Sullivan and Da'Quan Patton were the two starters with Justin Hughes out. The base defense used was two linebackers on the field and five defensive backs. The second group of linebackers was Cody Fletcher and Daniel Green. No other linebackers seemed to be pushing for playing time at this point.
Sullivan looks to be as healthy as he said he was, despite having a red jersey on during practice.
CORNERBACK
The only player that was with the ones on nearly every rep was A.J. Parker. The rest was a mix between Walter Neil, Kevion McGee and Lance Robinson. Darreyl Patterson took second-team reps. Neil and McGee were used with the ones a touch more than Lance Robinson.
Neil didn't play any nickel during practice on Saturday. The nickel was primarily Jonathan Durham. Jonathan Alexander was another that played a little bit of nickel, but it was mostly Durham. Robinson and Neil played all of their time at cornerback.
SAFETY
The starting safeties, at this point, seem to be Wayne Jones and Denzel Goolsby. Jonathan Alexander was the third safety, while Jahron McPherson was the fourth safety. That is not much of a surprise since Jones has been raved about.
Interestingly, Marcus Hayes and D.J. Render did not play safety, but played cornerback. Hayes did switch back to safety for a little bit at the end of practice.
