FALL CAMP REPORT 2: Competitions Ramping Up

NORMAL, Ill. – A remarkable run of great weather to start training camp once again met the Illinois State football team on Saturday morning, as the Redbirds put on shoulder pads for their first light contact of camp at Hancock Stadium. The Redbirds will have two more practices in shells (helmets and shoulder pads only), before their first fully-padded full contact practice on Tuesday.

Practice Highlights:
•    As usual, practice began with an installation period for both the offense and defense, before the full team stretch period and a brief special teams circuit that focused on the punt coverage teams.
•    Now with shoulder pads on, the team was able to hold its first passing under pressure period and starting quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse seemed unfazed, as he was 5-for-5 during the session with two completions to Javon Charles. Beckham Pellant was also stellar, going 5-for-6 with a pair of connections to Kaevion Mack.
•    The pressure was ramped up once again in the following blitz period, and this time the defense made a couple plays to start forcing an incompletion on the second attempt and Doreon Dubose knocked down Rittenhouse's second attempt of the period. Three plays later, Cam Wilson got into the act and broke up a pass by Pellant, but then the quarterbacks settled in as Rittenhouse found Scotty Presson Jr. for a first down and Pellant moved the sticks on a pass to David Connors Jr.
•    While majority of the team worked on the south end of the field in 9-on-7 work, the quarterbacks, wideouts and defensive backs worked a one-on-one session on the opposite end. The competition was fierce, and coverage was physical, with the first interception of the day being recorded by Shadwel Nkuba II during the period. 
•    During the 7-on-7 session, both Rittenhouse and Pellant were 4-for-6 as Rittenhouse tossed a pair of touchdown passes for 35 yards each to Mack and to Dylan Lord. The defense also came up with a couple big stops, as Jack Dwyer broke up a pass on the second attempt of the drill and Chris Taylor capped off the session with an interception of his own.
•    The team session was the final 11-on-11 period and Rittenhouse came out on fire with back-to-back completions to Eddie Kasper and then one to Daniel Sobkowicz. Pellant also completed his first four attempts, with connections to Mack and Lord. The running backs also got into the act, as Wenkers Wright broke off a big run and Victor Dawson picked up a hard-fought first down to move the sticks. A pass breakup in the secondary by Solomon Oduma and a breakup at the line by birthday boy Reece Edwards highlighted things for the defense.
•    As practice ended, the kickers took turns booting field goals and both Matt Maldonado and Michael Cosentino connected from 39 yards out during the session before the final horn blew and Coach Spack brought the team up at midfield to put a bow on practice No. 3.

Up Next: 
The Redbirds will return to the field Sunday at 1:30 p.m. for practice No. 4 of Fall Camp 2025. For updates, photos, and video from 2025 Redbird Football Fall Camp, follow the team's official X (@RedbirdFB), Instagram (isuredbirdfb) and TikTok (@redbirdfb) accounts and log onto GoRedbirds.com.

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