With an opening at his position, Georgia State quarterback Kelton Hill is making his move. Hill was perhaps the most impressive player in the Panthers' first spring scrimmage Thursday morning.
Running the first-team offense, Hill passed with more accuracy than he showed last fall and used his speed to generate yardage on the ground. His most impressive play was perhaps ill-advised but nonetheless successful. Hill rolled right and threw deep back across the field to wide receiver Albert Wilson, who leapt for the ball and ran it in for score covering nearly 50 yards.
"He struggled with [passing] a little bit at the tail end of last year, but he's throwing the ball well and he's really executing what we're trying to get done," offensive coordinator John Bond said.
Hill and Bo Schlechter have been the team's only quarterbacks this spring. Star Jackson has left the team and Drew Little is serving a suspension covering all of spring practice and the first four games of the season for violating team rules. Schlechter had accuracy issues Thursday, but has been having a good spring, Bond said.
To coach Bill Curry, who made Little the starter last year based on his ability to run the offense, Hill's biggest improvement is his facility in executing the play calls.
"His physical gifts are obvious," Curry said of Hill. "But the mental part is the most encouraging thing."
Felder shines
With the two other players at his position out with injuries, outside linebacker Akeen Felder scrimmaged with both the first- and second-string defenses. He made good use of his time, making several tackles and blitzing effectively. Felder has put on about 13 pounds since the end of last season and now weighs 208.
"You just know you're going to get the best out of him," defensive coordinator John Thompson said.
Thinned out by injury
Four linebackers who made starts last season – Robert Ferguson (concussion), Mark Hogan (groin), Jake Muasau (concussion) and Louie Muasau (ankle) – did not practice Thursday. Defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi (shoulder) had been out before Thursday. Four other players – defensive back Jacquies Jackson (hamstring), guard Jon Marshall Sauls (concussion), defensive tackle Demetreious Shorter (wrist) and defensive end Austen Wiley (back) – also sat out of the scrimmage. Curry said the injury rate this spring was "more than usual."
Etc.
Curry signed two additional players to the 2011 class: wide receivers Lynquez Blair (5-foot-9, 175 pounds) from Swainsboro High and Mark Young (6-5, 200) from Providence Day School in Charlotte. ... Bond has implemented a few plays gleaned from watching video of Auburn, Michigan and Oregon. ... Curry said the team's skill players are in good shape but that the linemen should be in better condition.
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