JONESBORO (3/13/09) ? The Arkansas State football team concluded the opening week of its 2009 spring camp Friday, throwing on shoulder pads for the first time during a 3:30 p.m. workout at ASU Stadium in cold weather conditions.
“I thought it was a pretty good week,” said ASU Head Coach Steve Roberts. “We put the pads on today for the first time and I thought the effort was really good. We've still got to clean up a lot of stuff if in order to be a good football team, but the effort and enthusiasm and the spirit of what we're trying to accomplish is outstanding.”
While it is still early during the Red Wolves spring camp and the entire team continues to progress, Roberts also noted that he has been especially pleased with the way the secondary and running backs have performed during the first week of spring practices.
A talented group of ASU running backs is led by Reggie Arnold, who enters his senior season as a three-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection and former Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year. After piling up 3,206 yards during his first three seasons, Arnold could become just the eighth running back in NCAA history to rush for over 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons.
Arnold finished the 2008 season ranked No. 2 in the Sun Belt Conference in rushing yards among running backs (89.5 yards per game) and No. 39 in the nation in rushing among all players. He posted a career-high eight touchdowns that led ASU and were the ninth most in the Sun Belt. Arnold currently stands second all-time at ASU in career rushing yards. The Little Rock, Ark. native needs 742 yards in 2009 to pass the late Richie Woit (1950-53) for the school record.
The Red Wolves also return sophomore Derek Lawson, who busted onto the scene last season with 710 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He averaged an impressive 7.2 yards per carry and became just the 11th player in ASU history to rush for over 200 yards in a game with 209 against Texas Southern. A strong candidate for Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2008, Lawson was one of 10 players recognized by CBSSports.com on its Sept. 24 “Freshman Watch List”, which featured the best freshmen in college football throughout the year.
ASU has plenty of depth at the position with redshirt freshman Don Jones, sophomore Jermaine Robertson and sophomore Najel Byrd all figuring into the mix. The Red Wolves have seven running backs on their spring roster, which also includes redshirt freshman Gavilan Bland and redshirt freshman Tim Dunn.
ASU also returns starting fullback Jeff Blake from Paragould, Ark., while Robertson has also seen time at the position. Danny McNeal is back with the Red Wolves for his junior season as well. Blake rushed five times for 40 yards and a touchdown and also added five receptions for 25 yards and two touchdowns last season as a sophomore.
The ASU secondary returns three starters and plenty of experience from last year's team that ranked No. 2 in the Sun Belt Conference and No. 46 in the nation in total defense. The Red Wolves intercepted 15 passes last season, ranking tied for 39th in the nation in the stat.
Three of ASU's four leading tacklers in 2008 were defensive backs and all three of those players return in 2009. Junior safety M.D. Jennings finished with a career-high 67 tackles last year and also posted a team-high three interceptions. Senior cornerback Daylan Walker was the third on the team in tackles with 65 and fellow senior Marcus Brown finished with 57 stops from his safety position.
Senior safety Evan Van Dolah joins Walker and Jennings as returning starters. Van Dolah posted 52 tackles, the seventh most on the team, and an interception last season. Senior Cordarious Mingo is currently listed as the No. 1 left corner on the ASU depth chart, while Jaquan Kilcrease is listed as the No. 2 strong safety, Kelcie McCray the No. 2 free safety, Paul Stephens the No. 2 right corner and Walter Moody the No. 2 left corner to give ASU plenty of experience in the secondary.
In addition to ASU's usual practice material covered the first three spring practices, Friday's workout also featured a team segment that focused on different down-and-distance scenarios. The Red Wolves' defense limited the offense to just one completion in seven attempts and also got into the backfield a couple of times for potential sacks. The offense was able to open some holes for its running game, but the defense was also in position for limited gains or losses on a few plays before the whistle.
“It's the first time we've done pass rush live and we just couldn't get into a rhythm offensively during that drill,” said Roberts.
ASU will hold its fourth spring practice Monday at 3:30 p.m. at ASU Stadium. The Red Wolves will suit out in full pads for the first time and will hold a full-contact team competition segment. Wednesday's 3:30 p.m. practice will be ASU's last before spring break and will feature a partial scrimmage.
