'Jacks Reach Midway Point of Spring Camp
4/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 13, 2010
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team took a break from the practice field Tuesday morning to focus on the weight room, but SFA was on field Monday for it's eighth workout. The Lumberjacks have now passed the midway point of spring drills. Several area high school coaches were on hand Monday morning to observe the SFA practice session, including Lufkin head coach John Outlaw.
As SFA faces the final stretch of the spring they will be looking the shore up the receiver position. Statistically, the Lumberjacks lost three of their top four receivers due to attrition. The loss of players like Duane Brooks, Contrevious Parks and Aaron Rhea would cause several sleepless nights for most coaching staffs, but SFA is confident in the young stable of receivers it has returning.
"Due to injuries, a lot of our freshman were forced into action late in the year," said SFA head coach J.C. Harper. "They really performed well, and we didn't miss a beat. The talent level is there we're just a little short on game experience."
The veteran of the 2010 receivers is sophomore Gralyn Crawford (5-10, 180). One of the top rookies in the league last season, Crawford finished third on the team with 51 receptions for 785 yards and seven touchdowns.
Although Crawford gives SFA an immediate big-play threat, opposing defensive coordinators will not be able to focus solely on the Palestine native. SFA also returns sophomore Cordell Roberson (6-3, 195). The Jefferson, Texas product hauled in 20 receptions for 380 yards last season, but the impressive stat on Roberson is he averaged 19 yards per reception. He recorded four receptions of 40 yards or more, and had four touchdown catches on the season.
"Both Gralyn and Cordell have been very consistent during the spring," said Harper. "I've been very pleased with their progress. We have a lot of guys who are really pushing for playing time. There are so many different guys who I could name who have done a good job to this point. It will be a fun battle to watch progress throughout spring and in August when players report back."
Other names to look out for who could make a splash in 2010 consist of sophomores Anthony Foster and Ryan Gambel and redshirt freshman Kris Lott. This youth, along with solid veterans like Brandon Scott and Garret Williams will give quarterback Jeremy Moses plenty of weapons to throw to in the upcoming season.
-SFA-
