All Three Phases Have Moments In Gamecocks' Second Scrimmage
8/17/2006 5:04:00 PM | Football
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State football team braved the heat in its third two-a-day practice on Friday, but inched closer to finalizing the 56-man roster for the Sept. 2 season opener at Furman.
The Gamecocks went out in full pads at 6:15 a.m. before working in shells during a 3:30 p.m. workout on a day that saw temperatures rise into the mid 90s. Head coach Jack Crowe and his staff are close to finalizing the travel roster for the Furman game, and they will use the team’s next scrimmage on Saturday morning to solidify that 56-man squad.
“We had a tired day,” Crowe said after the team’s second practice of the day. “But I think we still managed to get some things done. And I think we are getting closer to making a decision on the final spots for our 56-man roster.”
Crowe noted that most of the team’s travel squad will be comprised of returnees and players that have already taken redshirts, but he singled out a few true freshmen on each side of the ball that he thought had a good chance to make the final cut.
“On defense, our depth is pretty solid,” he said. “But there are a few true freshmen, Andrew Ridgeway, Harrison Gunn and Brandt Thomas, that appear to be headed towards Furman preparation if they get through the scrimmage on Saturday.”
Ridgeway is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker from Fort Payne, Ala., while Gunn is a 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker from Pleasant Grove, and Thomas is a 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive end from Anniston.
“Offensively, the only true freshman is going to be a tackle, and that will be between Matt Washington and Curt Porter,” Crowe said. “Every thingelse will be returning players and transfers. You always have newcomers that help you make the transition to a new season, and most of that is based on our needs as a team, and not how close the kids are to being ready to play.”
Washington is a 6-foot-4, 280-pound tackle from Springville, Ala., while Porter, a 6-foot-7, 275-pound tackle, is from Fayette, Ala.
Crowe plans to redshirt the majority of his true freshmen this season, a move that he feels benefits the players over their careers.
“We really try to redshirt every freshman,” he said. “No matter how close they are to being ready to play, they will really benefit from having a fifth year.”
The team will scrimmage for the third time in the 2006 preseason on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Paul Snow Stadium. They will have a practice-free day Sunday, but the JSU Athletic Department will host Fan Day at Paul Snow Stadium for two hours on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. The football, soccer and cross country teams, as well as Cocky and the JSU Cheerleaders, will be on hand to sign autographs
The Gamecocks went out in full pads at 6:15 a.m. before working in shells during a 3:30 p.m. workout on a day that saw temperatures rise into the mid 90s. Head coach Jack Crowe and his staff are close to finalizing the travel roster for the Furman game, and they will use the team’s next scrimmage on Saturday morning to solidify that 56-man squad.
“We had a tired day,” Crowe said after the team’s second practice of the day. “But I think we still managed to get some things done. And I think we are getting closer to making a decision on the final spots for our 56-man roster.”
Crowe noted that most of the team’s travel squad will be comprised of returnees and players that have already taken redshirts, but he singled out a few true freshmen on each side of the ball that he thought had a good chance to make the final cut.
“On defense, our depth is pretty solid,” he said. “But there are a few true freshmen, Andrew Ridgeway, Harrison Gunn and Brandt Thomas, that appear to be headed towards Furman preparation if they get through the scrimmage on Saturday.”
Ridgeway is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker from Fort Payne, Ala., while Gunn is a 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker from Pleasant Grove, and Thomas is a 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive end from Anniston.
“Offensively, the only true freshman is going to be a tackle, and that will be between Matt Washington and Curt Porter,” Crowe said. “Every thingelse will be returning players and transfers. You always have newcomers that help you make the transition to a new season, and most of that is based on our needs as a team, and not how close the kids are to being ready to play.”
Washington is a 6-foot-4, 280-pound tackle from Springville, Ala., while Porter, a 6-foot-7, 275-pound tackle, is from Fayette, Ala.
Crowe plans to redshirt the majority of his true freshmen this season, a move that he feels benefits the players over their careers.
“We really try to redshirt every freshman,” he said. “No matter how close they are to being ready to play, they will really benefit from having a fifth year.”
The team will scrimmage for the third time in the 2006 preseason on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Paul Snow Stadium. They will have a practice-free day Sunday, but the JSU Athletic Department will host Fan Day at Paul Snow Stadium for two hours on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. The football, soccer and cross country teams, as well as Cocky and the JSU Cheerleaders, will be on hand to sign autographs
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