FALL CAMP REPORT 2: Another Opportunity To Get Better

NORMAL, Ill. – It was another near-perfect morning weather-wise for the Illinois State football team, as the Redbirds took the turf at Hancock Stadium for their second practice of 2020 fall training camp Friday.

Practice Highlights:
•    The offensive and defensive units took the field in helmets only during the NCAA-mandated acclimation period, which transitions to helmets and shoulder pads for the next two practices before moving to full pads on Tuesday.
•    Coaches and support staff donned masks or face shields, while student-athletes adhered to social distancing protocols when not in action and equipment was frequently sanitized after use. 
•    The first action of the day came during the first 7-on-7 session, as Bryce Jefferson and Brady Davis took turns throwing to the first-and-second team receivers, tight ends and running backs … Both were very efficient, with Davis going 4-for-4 with completions to tight ends Robert Gillum and Tanner Taula … Jefferson also went 4-for-4, with two connections to Kacper Rutkiewicz.
•    The blitz drill followed, and the defense got under the offense's skin a bit as Romeo McKnight picked up a sack early and a pair of passes were broken up … A 25-yard completion from Davis to Joey Lombardi was the biggest highlight for the offense during the period.
•    Some perimeter work followed and the offense struck early, as Jefferson threaded the needle to Lombardi for a would-be 75-yard score … Davis also had a pair of long completions to Jabari Khepera before the defense tallied its first big momentum play of the when Jeremiah Jordan blew through the offensive line for a sack.
•    The second 7-on-7 session was much longer, with Davis and Jefferson each getting eight reps … Davis was 6-for-8 with a pair of completions to Jarel Miller, including a 35-yard touchdown strike … Jefferson went 5-for-8, with three of those attempts landing in the hands of Taylor Grimes, who ran one for a 35-yard gain and another for a 40-yard touchdown … the defense had its own highlights, including pass breakups by Brandon Simon and Shanon Reid and an interception off a tipped pass by Dylan Draka … in the second huddle, Spencer DeForest made the big play of the session with an interception of his own.
•    During the team period, the first-and-second team unit headed to the grass practice field adjacent to the stadium to get some work in … early in the drill, Simon got his hand up once again to knock down a pass and John Ridgeway pushed his way through the line for a sack … later in the drill, Julian Haynie added a sack coming off a secondary blitz and Reid added another pass breakup from his linebacker position … strong runs by Nigel White and Cole Mueller steadied things for the offense and a long completion over the middle from Jefferson to Grimes capped things off.

Up Next: 
The Redbirds are scheduled return to the field Saturday at 8:55 a.m. for practice No. 3. For updates, photos, and video from 2020 Redbird Football Fall Camp, follow the team's official Twitter (@RedbirdFB) and Instagram (isuredbirdfb) accounts and log onto GoRedbirds.com.

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