NORMAL, Ill. – While many around the Bloomington-Normal community were out celebrating St. Patrick's Day on Sunday, the Illinois State football team was making its own luck under the lights at Hancock Stadium in the first practice of the spring for the Redbirds.
Practice Highlights:
• The cool temperatures Sunday evening didn't seem to bother an enthusiastic group of Redbird players, many of whom came out in shorts and short sleeves to work through the initial chilly practice
• Action began with a special teams circuit, as different groups headed to separate parts of the turf to work on specific drills suited to their skills and responsibilities as part of the Redbirds' special teams units
• As the first 7-on-7 session began, quarterbacks Brady Davis and Bryce Jefferson alternated possessions and each was sharp in their first action of the spring … Davis was a perfect 8-for-8, connecting with favorite target Andrew Edgar four times including a 70-yard touchdown … Jefferson was equally accurate, completing 6-of-8 pass attempts including a trio to transfer wideout Cole Blackman
• The defense then got to pin its ears back and get after the quarterback in the blitz drill, which saw a pass breakup by Julian Haynie and one at the line of scrimmage by John Ridgeway
• An interception by Devin Taylor in the perimeter drill kept the momentum on the defense's side, before the offense got another crack in the second 7-on-7 period
• Davis was 5-for-8 in the second period, including a 70-yard TD to Taylor Grimes and Jefferson capped off the drill with a touchdown strike to Tristan Bailey … Iverson Brown recorded a pair of breakups in the drill as well, while Luther Kirk, Clayton Isbell and Taylor each added one apiece
• Following a spirited no-contact team period, the practice ended with Sam Fenlason, Nate Bond and JT Bohlken taking turns kicking field goals on the north end
Thoughts From Coach Spack:
"Tonight was a great start. I've told several people that this team is very deep at several positions, and that certainly showed tonight. I was particularly impressed with the wide receivers, running backs and offensive line. Each of those groups are strong and really athletic. This is going to be an interesting spring and we are certainly much further ahead than we were last year at this time. There's a lot of work to do still, but I like what I saw out there tonight."
Camp News & Notes:
• Defensive backs Jarrell Jackson and returned Peyton Jones to individual drills, after each missed the entire 2018 season due to knee injuries … both are expected to be non-contact for the spring and fully healthy for fall practice in August
• A pair of defensive linemen have moved across the line of scrimmage, as Trey Georgie returns to the offensive line and Peter Bussone joins the group
• Quarterback turned running back Trenton Hatfield has now settled at safety and will be competing for playing time along with a young but talented group behind Kirk and Christian Uphoff
• Illinois transfer offensive lineman Adam Solomon has settled in nicely and ran with the first team unit at right tackle Sunday
Up Next:
The Redbirds return to the field Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. for practice No. 2. For live updates, photos, and video from 2019 Redbird Football Spring Camp, follow the team's official Twitter (@RedbirdFB) and Instagram (isuredbirdfb) accounts and log onto GoRedbirds.com.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
