Coach Trent Miles wants to see his players execute smartly during Saturday’s scrimmage, the second of spring practice. The third and final scrimmage will be held April 11 at Panthersville.
“I don’t think our energy or our effort has been an issue at all,” Miles said. “We have to continue to get better, as we have been every day, with our execution and our fundamentals and techniques, and apply it when no coach is on the field coaching you or telling you.”
Saturday’s scrimmage will feature the first and second teams facing each other.
Miles said he is pleased with the progress the team is making. Asked to name one or two players who have stood out, Miles begins to cite several players before finally stopping and saying that they are all good kids.
“We see more and more every day what we’ve been asking them to do,” he said. “They have better understanding, developed better by experience and age and are better athletically.”
Before he stopped, Miles’ list of players included offensive lineman Taylor Evans, who was someone Miles singled out earlier in the spring as being unhappy with, quarterback Nick Arbuckle, running back Kyler Neal, wide receiver Donovan Harden, linebackers Alonzo McGee, Kaleb Ringer and Joseph Peterson, defensive ends Mackendy Cheridor and Shawayne Lawrence, cornerback Bruce Dukes and safety Bryan Williams.
Wide receivers: Assistant coach Tim Lappano is very pleased with the depth of the group, noting that there are several players who should see consistent playing time.
Though still limited as he recovers from a shoulder injury, Donovan Harden, last year’s leading receiver, has picked up where he left off after catching 60 passes for 885 yards and seven touchdowns. Lappano said Robert Davis has arguably the best skills, but needs to improve his consistency. Sophomores Todd Boyd and Glenn Smith are good route-runners with good ball skills.
As for some of the new players, Lappano said Nyiakki (pronounced Nike) Height has the physical tools and is a good blocker, but needs to develop consistency in his pass-catching and route-running.
Octavious Andrews likely will be a role player who Lappano described as “real savvy.”
Lappano said he hasn’t gotten to see much of Kameron Myers because of an injury, but he thinks he will become a slot receiver.
Defensive line: Assistant coach Tony Samuel has been working with the defensive line for less than two weeks. He moved from outside linebackers to the position when Shannon Jackson left the staff.
The group, arguably the most scrutinized in the spring because of last year’s trouble defending the run and creating impact plays, hasn’t seen many changes. The first team consists of ends Cheridor and Lawrence and Jalen Lawrence at nose tackle.
“They should be better because they have done it before,” Samuel said.
Samuel said DeQueszman Kelley, a transfer who enrolled in the spring from Coffeyville Community College, will become a factor once he learns the defense because of his quickness and ability.
Julien Laurent, another transfer who is expected to compete with Lawrence at nose tackle, sat out Friday’s practice as a precautionary measure because it was thought he may have suffered a concussion in a previous practice. Miles said he thought Laurent had been cleared to participate in Saturday’s scrimmage.
Miles said he isn’t in a hurry to hire a defensive line coach because the spring practices will end next week.
“The staff is doing a great job handling it,” he said. “The line is getting better.”
Facilities: Athletic Director Charlie Cobb said Thursday he should know the construction start date on the strength-and-conditioning center for football within two weeks. It is expected to be completed by Aug. 1, the start of the preseason practice.
Additionally, an RFP for the design of the basketball practice center is expected to be completed within two weeks. The next step will be agreeing to a contract with the winning bidder.
The strength and conditioning center for football will be approximately 7,000 square feet and be built adjacent to the practice facility at 188 MLK Drive SE.
The basketball practice center will be constructed within the Aquatics Center, located next to GSU Sports Arena.
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