Rob Ash will oversee MSU's first fall practice Sunday at 2:30 pm
Ash Presides Over Ninth Bobcat Fall Camp Sunday
8/9/2015 10:38:00 AM | Football
First MSU practice of August begins at 2:30 pm on practice fields
Rob Ash is well aware of the contrast he'll see in his team with Sunday afternoon's 2:30 pm practice session..
While his defensive unit passes out "Hello My Name Is" stickers to the players battling for eight vacancies in the starting lineup before Sunday's first fall practice, nine returning starters line up with a pretty good idea of which direction to go on each play. Ash is eager for the challenges inherit to each situation, a process which begins Sunday afternoon.
"It will be important to begin integrating the new transfers into the defense," Ash said of a unit that welcomes four transfers who weren't present for spring drills into the depth chart in the front seven. "We'll need to get those guys up to speed. But even with those newcomers, we have a number of players that are veterans, and a number who of younger guys who had really good springs. It's not a case where that entire side of the ball is brand new."
Offensively, preseason All-Americas Dakota Prukop, the team's record-setting quarterback, and guard JP Flynn, both juniors, pace an offense that returns nine starters. The Cats set school records for points and yards a year ago.
"Our offense is a known quantity," Ash says of his offense. "That group has great experience, but it also knows it will have a target on its back because of the success it had last year. Tight end is the one position without any real starting experience, and Beau Sandland and Austin Barth are extremely capable players."
While there are few, if any, true position battles on offense – "At positions like running back and receiver it's not that important who gets the first play because we rotate so many players through during a game," Ash said – there is some intrigue. Establishing depth is a premium at offensive line after a winter and summer of dealing with injuries and departures. Sophomore Monte Folsom moves across the line of scrimmage to help address that need.
Defensively, several spots are open for competition at the outset of fall camp. Veterans dot the front four, with preseason All-Big Sky choice Taylor Sheridan anchoring the line from his defensive tackle spot. Senior cornerback Bryson Keeton is the only returning starter in the secondary, although Bryce Alley and Trace Timmer both played that position some a year ago, and safety Khari Garcia also returns with experience. The strong safety position, however, is likely to be decided between new transfers Desman Carter and Bryson McCabe.
Practice Sunday begins at 2:30 pm on the MSU practice field, southeast of the Fieldhouse.
While his defensive unit passes out "Hello My Name Is" stickers to the players battling for eight vacancies in the starting lineup before Sunday's first fall practice, nine returning starters line up with a pretty good idea of which direction to go on each play. Ash is eager for the challenges inherit to each situation, a process which begins Sunday afternoon.
"It will be important to begin integrating the new transfers into the defense," Ash said of a unit that welcomes four transfers who weren't present for spring drills into the depth chart in the front seven. "We'll need to get those guys up to speed. But even with those newcomers, we have a number of players that are veterans, and a number who of younger guys who had really good springs. It's not a case where that entire side of the ball is brand new."
Offensively, preseason All-Americas Dakota Prukop, the team's record-setting quarterback, and guard JP Flynn, both juniors, pace an offense that returns nine starters. The Cats set school records for points and yards a year ago.
"Our offense is a known quantity," Ash says of his offense. "That group has great experience, but it also knows it will have a target on its back because of the success it had last year. Tight end is the one position without any real starting experience, and Beau Sandland and Austin Barth are extremely capable players."
While there are few, if any, true position battles on offense – "At positions like running back and receiver it's not that important who gets the first play because we rotate so many players through during a game," Ash said – there is some intrigue. Establishing depth is a premium at offensive line after a winter and summer of dealing with injuries and departures. Sophomore Monte Folsom moves across the line of scrimmage to help address that need.
Defensively, several spots are open for competition at the outset of fall camp. Veterans dot the front four, with preseason All-Big Sky choice Taylor Sheridan anchoring the line from his defensive tackle spot. Senior cornerback Bryson Keeton is the only returning starter in the secondary, although Bryce Alley and Trace Timmer both played that position some a year ago, and safety Khari Garcia also returns with experience. The strong safety position, however, is likely to be decided between new transfers Desman Carter and Bryson McCabe.
Practice Sunday begins at 2:30 pm on the MSU practice field, southeast of the Fieldhouse.
Players Mentioned
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