Spring Camp Report 4: Toughness Prevails

NORMAL, Ill. – After the completion of Thursday's practice on the turf at Hancock Stadium, the Illinois State football team is nearly halfway through its scheduled spring workouts and players are having to overcome soreness and rely on toughness to power through some tough work.

Practice Highlights:
•    For the first time all spring, the players, coaches and staff were treated to warm temperatures and partially sunny skies as practice began.
•    Following a punt coverage drill and individual period, the team went into its first 7-on-7 session with the defense getting the better of the offense … pass breakups by DeMarco Washington, Charles Woods, Jarrell Jackson and Trenton Hatfield controlled the session, but a touchdown pass from Brady Davis to Austin Nagel gave the offense something to build off of. 
•    The offense made some key plays in the blitz drill that followed, but the period was capped off by a Devin Taylor interception return for a touchdown.
•    Following a pods drill and 9-on-7 session, the second red zone 7-on-7 session commenced and this time the offense controlled the action … Davis threw a pair of touchdown passes to Andrew Edgar and one each to Jeff Proctor and Joey Lombardi … Bryce Jefferson also tossed one to Eric Rogers, who leaped over a defender to grab the toss with one hand for the score.
•    A full-contact team red zone period capped off practice, with the defense taking advantage of a sack by Washington to force a 38-yard field goal by Sam Fenlason on the first attempt … two quick touchdowns by Proctor and Melvin Pettis on the next two attempts kept the momentum going and Proctor added a second score from one yard out on the next drive … a key penalty negated a score on the next attempt, and the defense held the offense to a 27-yard field goal make by Fenlason … practice ended with Kenton Wilhoit and Jude Okolo combining for a TFL to force a field goal that missed wide right.

Thoughts From Coach Spack:
"It got pretty physical out there today, and that's the way we like it. The guys were really grinding through practice and that last live red zone period really pushed them to the limit. We saw some good plays made on both sides of the football, with one side having to battle back to answer the other. That's what we like to see at this time of camp, as players are fighting through bumps and bruises to push their way through. The guys that have been out here every day getting these important reps are improving each time out and that's a great sign as we head into the back half of camp and toward the summer." 

Camp News & Notes:
•    The Bird Drill returned for the second time this spring, as players went one on one in the middle of the field attempting to force their opponent off the Reggie Redbird logo at midfield.
•    A lot of talk before and after practice centered on MLB opening day games and predictions for the NCAA Sweet 16 games, with Coach Spack having keen interest in Purdue's game against Tennessee.

Up Next:
The Redbirds return to the field Saturday at 9 a.m. for practice No. 8. 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.

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