FALL CAMP REPORT #2: The Climb Continues

NORMAL, Ill. – The third practice of fall training camp was the toughest yet for Illinois State, as shoulder pads went on for the first time and the Redbirds were met with warm and humid temperatures on Saturday morning at Hancock Stadium. The two-hour workout was ISU's third in as many days and had a focus on converting in third-down situations.

Practice Highlights:
•    After the special teams circuit and position drills got things started, the passing under pressure drill commenced as Redbird quarterbacks looked to make big plays under duress … the defense struck first as Nigel White broke up the first pass attempt of the period on a great read and break on the receiver … Tommy Rittenhouse then settled down with a pair of completions to Xavier Loyd and Eddie Kasper to get the offense back on track … two plays later, Nick Kessler picked up the first of his two sacks during the session and that was followed by a pass breakup by Cameron Wilson … another sack by Kessler was surrounded by six completions by Jake Rubley and Rittenhouse, with Tommy Donovan catching a pair of passes during that stretch.
•    Shortly after, the blitz drill followed and the offense got off to a great start, as Wenkers Wright broke free and beat the pressure for a 30-plus yard touchdown run … Seth Glatz also picked up a pair of strong runs during the session, but the defense also came up big as Jalan Gaines recorded a sack and Patrick Bauer capped off the drill with a pass breakup.
•    Kessler was back at it during the perimeter drill, as the disrupted the first play from scrimmage with a TFL … the offense rebounded with strong runs by Josh Robinson and Glatz and a nice completion from Rittenhouse to Donovan … on the opposite side of the field, freshman Jashawn Echols recorded a pick six in the second huddle to highlight action there.
•    During the 7-on-7 session, Rubley went 4-for-5 with completions to Javon Charles, Robinson, Mason King and Eddie Kasper … Rittenhouse was also 4-for-5 during the session, with two completions to Braden Contreras and one each to Scotty Presson Jr. and Max Ziebarth.
•    The team session focused mainly on third-down situations and got off to a great start for the defense, which picked up a TFL from Garret Steffen on the first play … the offense rebounded with a pair of third-down completions by Rubley to Presson and Contreras, before a run by King also moved the chains … after stops at the line by the defense and a sack by Amir Abdullah, Rubley connected with Glatz in the flat for a 27-yard touchdown for the lone score of the drill … strong runs by Robinson picked up a pair of third-down conversions three plays later, before Gaines recorded a TFL on an outside run … the drill ended with Cal Martine moving the chains on a strong run up the middle and a first-down completion from Rittenhouse to Brett Kasper, before a sack by Steven Curtis brought things to an end.
•    Practice concluded with PAT and field goal attempts from kickers Ian Wagner and Michael Cosentino.

Up Next: 
The Redbirds return to the field on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. for the fourth practice of fall training camp. For updates, photos, and video from 2024 Redbird Football Spring Camp, follow the team's official X (@RedbirdFB) and Instagram (isuredbirdfb) accounts and log onto GoRedbirds.com.

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