SPRING CAMP REPORT 3: Opportunity Awaits

NORMAL, Ill. – As the third week of Illinois State football spring camp began on Tuesday, the message was reiterated by head coach Brock Spack and the coaching staff that every day is an opportunity to earn playing time and put quality film on tape for further evaluation in the fall. The work being done by the team now will drastically affect how the roster shakes out in the fall, and players took this challenge to heart during the two-hour workout at Hancock Stadium.

The team took the field in full pads and worked through special teams circuits on a cool morning in the Twin Cities. The practice was the first of two, before the teams first intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday.

Practice Highlights:
•    Practice began with a team stretch and a special teams circuit, before the team broke off into position groups to run through individual drills.
•    After the individual period, the focus shifted to putting the Redbird quarterbacks under pressure with a pair of pass rush drills … following the blitz drill, some pods work and the 9-on-7 session, the 7-on-7 session began with the quarterbacks taking their chances as airing it out down the field.
•    Zack Annexstad was solid in the drill, completing 5-of-8 passes to five different receivers including running backs Mason Blakemore and Cole Mueller … Annexstad also found Jalen Carr, Daniel Sobkowicz and Eddie Kasper for first-down connections.
•    Tommy Rittenhouse and Mason Kaplan were each 3-for-4, with Rittenhouse finding Max Ziebarth and Joshua Ficklin for completions and Kaplan had a pair of connections to Tyreke Fortney. 
•    The team session followed, and Annexstad got off to a great start completing his first three passes before his fourth was broken up by Jack Dwyer … Kaplan then picked up a pair of first downs on completions to Braden Contreras and Fortney, before Annexstad ripped off four-straight completions including a pair to Cam Grandy for big gains down the middle of the field … Rittenhouse also got into the action, with four-straight completions of his own with a pair to Brett Gardner … running backs Wenkers Wright, Cal Martine, Ficklin and Blakemore each got opportunities to carry the rock as well during the drill.
•    Practice ended with kickers Ian Wagner and Josh Jasek each taking turns booting field goals and extra point attempts through the uprights, as the defense worked on alignment and schemes to block kicks.

Up Next: 
The Redbirds return to the field Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. for practice No. 7. For updates, photos, and video from 2023 Redbird Football Fall Camp, follow the team's official Twitter (@RedbirdFB) and Instagram (isuredbirdfb) accounts and log onto GoRedbirds.com.

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