NORMAL, Ill. – Week three of Fall Camp '23 is halfway over for the Redbirds, who are quickly approaching their final scrimmage of camp before starting classes and shifting their focus to the season opener on September 2 against the Dayton Flyers. ISU took to the field Wednesday morning in full pads for the second time this week and were greeted by near perfect weather at Hancock Stadium for the team's two-hour workout.
Practice Highlights:
•   Practice opened 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 back to special teams and the punt protection unit which did its best to protect punters Ian Wagner, Josh Jasek and Hayden Futch as they kicked to returners Eddie Kasper, Jeff Bowens, Chris Taylor and Tommy Donovan.
•   The blitz period was next for the Redbirds and it started in a big way for the offense, as quarterback Zack Annexstad connected with Camo Nelson for a would-be 75-yard touchdown reception as he broke away in the secondary … the defense was able to pick up some key stops on a sack by Greg Gallowy and a pass breakup by Darrell Talley III, but the offense finished on a high note thanks to Tommy Rittenhouse who found Braden Contreras for a 50-yard connection.
•   Following the perimeter drill, the action moved to the 7-on-7 session where Annexstad and Rittenhouse were both perfect … Annexstad was 8-for-8 with two connections each to Cam Grandy, Rylan Crawford and Eddie Kasper while Rittenhouse also went 8-for-8 with two long connections with Scotty Presson Jr. and two to Contreras.
•   The team period began with each unit driving the field from their own 32 yard line … the first-team offense moved down the field methodically, with a 13-yard connection from Annexstad to Mason Blakemore out of the backfield before the drive was eventually stalled at the defense's 31 yard line which forced a 48-yard field goal attempt from Wagner which he put through the uprights for three points.
•   The second-team unit also got off to a good start, thanks to an 18-yard run on the first play from scrimmage by running back Wenkers Wright that put the ball at midfield … another strong run by Wright and a 20-yard connection from Rittenhouse to Jalen Carr eventually put the ball at the 16 yard line, but a sack by Steven Curtis would force a 44 yard field goal attempt by Jasek that fell just short.
•   The third-team drive was also going well, until Christian Kirenga swooped in and had a diving interception along the far sideline to end that portion of the drill, before the action moved to the red zone.
•   In the red zone, the first team defense came up with a combined breakup by Dillon Gearhart and CJ Hodgdon in their three attempts, before Rittenhouse called his own number on a 5-yard run with the second-team unit for a touchdown.
•   The final scenario of the day was two chances at a two-point conversion for each of the first two units, with the first-team offense converting on its first try on a run by Camo Nelson before a pass breakup by Tye Niekamp foiled the second attempt … the second team unit converted on its first try as well with a connection from Rittenhouse to David Connors Jr. before a run by Donovan was stopped short on the second try to bring practice to an end.
Up Next:Â
The Redbirds have an off day on Thursday before returning to the field Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. for practice No. 13. For updates, photos, and video from 2023 Redbird Football Fall Camp, follow the team's official X (@RedbirdFB) and Instagram (isuredbirdfb) accounts and log onto GoRedbirds.com.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
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