NORMAL, Ill. – For the first time this spring, the Illinois State football team put on full pads for practice at Hancock Stadium Thursday afternoon in the third of 15 workouts for the Redbirds.
Practice Highlights:
• The cool temperatures remained, but the action was heated on the first day of full pads … players and coaches alike were excited for the contact and as practice progressed, so did the intensity.
• Quarterback Brady Davis was 6-for-8 in the first 7-on-7 session, connecting with Taylor Grimes four times during the drill while also hitting tight end Robert Gillum on a 50-yard touchdown pass ... the defense also made several impressive plays, with Zeke Vandenburgh recording an interception and Iverson Brown and Jarrell Jackson each tallying pass breakups.
• Having pads on also allowed for the pods drill to return, as groups of four offensive players squared off in tight space against four defenders … running backs Kevin Brown, Jeffrey Proctor, Brian Adams and Melvin Pettis each took reps in the rapid-fire run drill, with each huddle going immediately after the other with coaches providing immediate feedback to linemen, tacklers and ball-carriers along the way.
• Davis was 5-for-8 in the second 7-on-7 period, with a pair of completions to tight end Tanner Taula … safety Mike Gardner made the defensive play of the drill by picking off a Bryce Jefferson offering in the middle of the field, and linebacker Kenton Wilhoit also added an impressive pass breakup in coverage.
• The final team drill went nearly 30 plays, with highlights including an 80-yard touchdown strike from Davis to Andrew Edgar, a pass breakup by Jackson and a sack by DeMarco Washington.
Thoughts From Coach Spack:
"For the first day in full pads, it was very spirited out there. I continue to be impressed with the attitude and tempo of this team right now. They seem to be getting a bit better each day and made big strides today in cleaning up some mistakes we saw in Tuesday's workout. We put the pads on and got some good work in, but we will go live on Saturday and really see what some of these guys have."
Camp News & Notes:
• Longsnapper Paul Monaco returned to the team Tuesday after missing Sunday's first practice, because he was on his way back from a unique spring break experience with his fellow ISU ROTC members where they competed in the 26.2 mile Bataan Memorial Death March in at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
• With the loss of the team's primary punt returner from last season, several players including Luther Kirk, Edgar, Grimes and Charles Woods auditioned for the role during Thursday's special teams period.
• Just before practice began, news broke that former Redbird star tight end James O'Shaughnessy had re-signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars … he has 46 career receptions for 449 yards and a touchdown in four NFL seasons, including 38 receptions for 363 yards and a touchdown with the Jags.
Up Next:
The Redbirds return to the field Saturday at 9 a.m. for practice No. 4. 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.
