JONESBORO (4/1/09) ? The Arkansas State football team held its second workout this week Wednesday at ASU Stadium in helmets and shoulder pads and ended its seventh overall spring practice with a team segment that saw the Red Wolves' passing game excel.
The Red Wolves took the field at 3:30 p.m. and went through various drills before holding a 20-play team segment followed by another 10-play team period, the second strictly focused on the passing game.
“I was really pleased with the way today went,” said ASU Head Coach Steve Roberts. “We haven't had a bad practice yet, but we've had a couple of days out of the seven practices where we got better at times and also left too much on the table at times. Overall, I think we're getting better.”
The ASU offense completed 11-of-16 passes for approximately 113 yards. Starting quarterback Corey Leonard was a perfect 7-of-7 during the two team-practice segments, while Ryan Aplin connected on all four of his attempts as well.
Wide receivers Brandon Thompkins, Anthony Robinson, Taylor Clements, Jahbari McLennan and Jarriel Norman all caught at least one pass, while running back Reggie Arnold and tight ends Trevor Gillott and Justin Schoemehl also recorded a reception. The longest play was a Leonard pass to Thompkins that went for over 30 yards, but Leonard also connected with Clements for a 20-yard completion and with Robinson for a 23-yard gain.
The offensive line looked sharp for much of the team segment, both in pass protection and run blocking. ASU returns two starters from its offensive line in guards Dominic Padrta and Drew Hilton, but also lost the services of four-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection Matt Mandich, starting center Brandon Ciaramitaro and 2008 All-Sun Belt pick Mark Clemons.
“I've been pleased with our offensive line,” said Roberts. “We're getting better and I think we're going to be okay there. Derek Newton and Kiano Prater are both playing and competing very well (at tackle). We've got good competition at center with Eric Allen and Tom Castilaw, so I think we're getting better.”
ASU's situation along the offensive line this year is similar to 2008 in that it is replacing the majority of its starters up front. Also much like last season, ASU has several upperclassmen with a wealth of maturity that could possibly step into a starting role. ASU had three seniors that started on the offensive line in 2008 when the Red Wolves broke the 57-year-old school record for total offense, and this year three seniors and two juniors are currently at the top of the depth chart.
While Padrta and Hilton are the only two returning offensive linemen with extensive playing experience at ASU, senior tackles Prater and Newton, who have seen a lot of work with the first team this spring, have been in ASU's system for a year and have experience at the junior-college level. Padrta started 10 games and Hilton seven last season for ASU's offense that ranked No. 2 in the Sun Belt Conference in rushing and No. 38 in the nation in total offense.
Castilaw, a redshirt junior, has had three years to work with ASU's offensive scheme and is currently listed as the No. 1 center. Allen is a redshirt freshman that will also factor in at the center position.
There are two juniors, a sophomore and a redshirt freshman included among the other four players on the o-line depth chart. At the guard position, Sifa Etu, a transfer from Chabot (Calif.) Junior College, could possibly make an immediate impact and has turned in a solid effort this spring. Alfred Louis is listed as the No. 2 left guard and started two games last season. Redshirt freshman Brian Evans and redshirt sophomore Delano Moore are competing at tackle. ASU added four high school players to its offensive line in the 2009 signing class as well.
ASU's next practice will be held Friday at 3:30 p.m. and will feature a full-contact scrimmage.
