With the exception of the quarterbacks, the entire Illinois State football team donned full pads for the first time this spring on Sunday at Hancock Stadium for the fourth of 15 practices.
The Sunday session consisted of 20 four-minute periods and ended with four segments of team scrimmage for head coach Denver Johnson and his staff to evaluate.
We had some live work today and were in pads for the first time, Johnson said. Im really pleased with these guys. Ive never seen our defense so excited. They are genuinely excited and having a good time. We have some new wrinkles that they have really embraced. They are just really fired up right now.
During the team scrimmage the offense ran 25 plays on a first and 10 scenario with 16 coming on the ground. Of the nine passing plays, the Redbirds failed to complete only one and senior Mike Souza found sophomore Ramon Barber in the middle of the field for a 35-yard gain on the second play.
During a first and 10 drill the offense is in a the best position, Johnson added. Mike (Souza) just does some really great things with the ball and Yance (Vaughan) did some nice things as well. Demetrus Johnson was impressive in the backfield today and Harry Lattimore had a couple of nice carries.
Also in the scrimmage session, Demetrus Johnson legged a 15-yard carry, while Lattimore pounded out a pair of 12 and five-yard runs. Defensively, senior Austin Dunlap posted a sack when he dropped Souza for a loss.
The Redbirds will now have three days off before returning to the field on Thursday. The fifth practice is slated to start at 3:30 p.m., at Hancock Stadium.
NOTEBOOK:
Wide receiver Joe Walkins missed the second-straight practice with a sore hamstring.
