Photo by: SFA Athletics
2017 SFA Football Fall Camp Report: Defense
8/17/2017 5:02:00 PM | Football
The ‘Jacks moved back into Homer Bryce Stadium for day 13 of fall camp Thursday morning, preparing for Saturday’s second scrimmage of the preseason Saturday
The 2017 Stephen F. Austin football season is just around the corner and the Lumberjacks have begun fall camp, beginning the countdown to the 91st season of Lumberjack football in Nacogdoches. Throughout camp, SFAJacks.com will break down each position, today highlighting the defense as a whole.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Running their third morning practice of fall camp, the Stephen F. Austin football team took to Homer Bryce Stadium Thursday in shoulder pads, jerseys and shorts in preparation for the Lumberjack's second scrimmage of the preseason Saturday. With temperatures already in the mid-80's and the heat index in excess of 90 degrees before 10 a.m., SFA primarily worked on situational football.
Lasting a little under an hour and 45 min., the 19-period practice session got underway with the usual pre-practice drills followed by a dynamic warmup and stretching. The team then went into field goal kicking with full formation, before conducting positional and one-on-one drills.
The main focus of the morning was on situational plays as the 'Jacks conducted two three-period drills that involved multiple snaps in first, second and third down scenarios. The first was a 21-play drill that included 14 first-down snaps followed by seven third-and-10 plays. The final three periods of actual football were spent running 18 full-team plays, including six each of first down, second down and third-and-10 situations. The morning workout wrapped up with a conditioning period to bring practice 13 of preseason camp to an end.
Defense
Anchored in its defensive line, SFA's defense will strive to be much improved in 2017 from a year ago where the 'Jacks ranked 10th in the Southland Conference in total defense and last in the league in both pass and scoring defense. Opponents scored an average of 38.4 points against SFA in 2016 as the 'Jacks gave up 473 yards per game and 332.6 passing yards per contest.
During the offseason SFA brought in first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Byrd, who came to Nacogdoches after spending the last five seasons at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Known for his aggressive defensive play, Byrd is a coaching veteran who has spent the last 14 seasons as a defensive coordinator at the collegiate level.
"We talk to the guys all the time about getting better little by little every day and that's all you can expect", Coach Byrd said after day 13 of fall camp. "You can't look at being the whole picture, you've got to look at whatever you're doing and make sure you've got whatever we're working on that day better and just keep building those. I think these guys have done a great job of building the little things every day."
Over the past few season, SFA has established a reputation for having one the top defensive lines in the nation, a trend the 'Jacks hope to continue this fall. A season ago, SFA ranked fifth nationally in sacks per game (3.18), sixth in fumbles recovered (13), 12th in turnovers forced (26) and 21st in tackles for loss per game (7.4). Much of that success has to do with senior defensive end John Franklin (Greenville, Texas), who ranked among national leaders at the FCS level in tackles for loss (14.5), sacks (8.0), quarterback hurries (9) and forced fumbles (4).
Franklin's 0.36 forced fumbles per game led the Southland and was eighth-best nationally, while his two fumbles recovered were the third-most in the conference and ranked him in the top-25 in the nation. For his performance during the season, Franklin was named to the All-Southland First Team and has been tabbed as a preseason All-Southland First Team selection by the league office. He has also racked up other numerous preseason conference accolades, including being named by College Sports Madness and Emory Hunt's Football Gameplan as a preseason all-conference performer, while being tabbed as "one to watch on defense" by STATS FCS. Franklin is one of the nation's top defensive players and is the anchor of SFA's defensive unit.
Along with Franklin, the 'Jacks' defensive front should once again rank among the best in the league. SFA returns a number of key players, including juniors Lamont Alexander (Nolanville, Texas), a preseason All-Southland Second Team selection, Shaq Anderson (Greenville, Texas) and Demetrion Amie (Fort Worth, Texas). Alexander emerged as a starter for the 'Jacks last season and finished the year with 30 tackles, including 10 solo stops, and a sack, providing constant pressure up front. Anderson saw action in all 11 games in his first season in Nacogdoches, posting 35 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while Amie played in nine games and added seven tackles and 1.5 sacks in his second season as a Lumberjack.
"When you look at guys who standout, there is a bunch of guys doing great things but as a group our defensive line", remarked Coach Byrd on who has really stood out to him. "They are really special, they're playing hard and you've got a lot of size and a lot of length. The effort has been there and it's going to give us a chance to rotate guys in, anytime you're strong up front that helps you throughout the whole defense. There are several guys at other positions but that position group sticks out to me the most."
A question mark for the 'Jacks will be at the linebacker position as SFA will need to fill the holes left from seniors Price Miller and George Stone, the top two tacklers from 2016. However, several linebackers have looked good in fall camp and during last Saturday's scrimmage. One in particular is the "veteran" of the group, junior Ryan Woods (Woodlands, Texas), who is coming off a 2016 season in which he played in nine games with 22 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Eager to make their mark are a trio of sophomores who go their first taste of college football last season. Spencer Choka (Bryan, Texas), Anthony Jacobs (Houston, Texas) and Teddy Britton (San Antonio, Texas) each utilized their redshirt seasons as true freshmen in 2015 before combining for 32 total tackles and a pair of tackles for loss in relief roles last year. Those three, along with Woods, will be looked upon to lead the middle of SFA's defense.
The 'Jacks' secondary was an area hit hard by injuries in 2016, especially at the cornerback position. Thankfully, SFA has a number of upperclassmen across the backfield, including senior cornerbacks Trent Perriman (Miami, Fla.) and Aaron Foy (Kilgore, Texas) and senior safety Marlon Walls (Pearland, Texas). Perriman made 35 tackles to complement 10 pass breakups, a pair of interceptions and a forced fumble last year, while Foy played in six games with five starts before his junior season was cut short due to injury. Walls finished with 62 total tackles and a team-best 37 solo stops a season ago. As SFA football's first-ever first team College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American, Walls continues to emerge as one of SFA's top leaders both on and off the field. He was named 2016 Southland Conference Football Student-Athlete of the Year, a FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star, a finalist for the FCS Doris Robinson Scholar Athlete of the Year Award and was nominated for a spot on the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team earlier this summer.
Junior cornerback Tarrin Mitchell (Dallas, Texas) and junior safety Lawrence Ghansah (Cypress, Texas) will also be key contributors to the defense's secondary. Mitchell battled through nagging injuries for the majority of 2016, playing in 10 games with five starts and accumulating 24 tackles with a pair of interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He is the most experienced player among the corners, making 21 game appearances in his Lumberjack career. Ghansah played in all 11 games in 2016, registering 29 total tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss.
A number younger players also made key contributions for the 'Jacks last year, including sophomore safeties Alize Ward (San Diego, Calif.), a preseason All-Southland Second Team kick returner, and Trey Ramos (Azle, Texas). Both look to have standout seasons in 2017 after Ward ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 59 and claimed All-Southland honorable mention honors. Ramos came on strong over the last half of the season, finishing with 16 tackles and a fumble recovery playing both defensively and on special teams.
"It's been work ethic", commented Coach Byrd when asked what has impressed him most about his defense. "We had to teach them how to work and do some things a little differently and challenged and stressed them a little bit, but they've rallied to that challenge. They're doing everything we ask them to do. If they just keep getting better with the little things, the effort has been there and the attitude has been great, it's just the little things within the execution that we've got to continue to work on."
SFA will practice in just helmets, jerseys and shorts Friday as the 'Jacks host their usual morning session at 9:15 a.m. on the grass fields behind the SFA Fieldhouse. Saturday, the 'Jacks will hold their second full-contact scrimmage of fall camp inside Homer Bryce with a 4 p.m. start time.
The 'Jacks open up the 2017 season at SMU on Saturday, Sept. 2, before beginning the home portion of their schedule the following weekend against Southern Utah (Sept. 9).
Season tickets for 2017 SFA Football are on sale through the SFA athletics ticket office and can be purchased here. Available season ticket packages include reserved chair back and reserved bench seats. SFA football season tickets start at only $63 for the general public and $38 for faculty and staff. For more information, call 936-468-5225 (JACK).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete 2017 fall camp coverage.
2017 SFA FOOTBALL FALL CAMP SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 18 – Practice 14 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Helmets
Saturday, Aug. 19 (Scrimmage Two) – Practice 15 (4 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Full Pads
Monday, Aug. 21 – Practice 16 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Shells
Tuesday, Aug. 22 – Practice 17 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Shells
Wednesday, Aug. 23 (Scrimmage Three) – Practice 18 (7 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Full Pads
* – Practice fields located behind the athletics fieldhouse
-SFA-
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Running their third morning practice of fall camp, the Stephen F. Austin football team took to Homer Bryce Stadium Thursday in shoulder pads, jerseys and shorts in preparation for the Lumberjack's second scrimmage of the preseason Saturday. With temperatures already in the mid-80's and the heat index in excess of 90 degrees before 10 a.m., SFA primarily worked on situational football.
Lasting a little under an hour and 45 min., the 19-period practice session got underway with the usual pre-practice drills followed by a dynamic warmup and stretching. The team then went into field goal kicking with full formation, before conducting positional and one-on-one drills.
The main focus of the morning was on situational plays as the 'Jacks conducted two three-period drills that involved multiple snaps in first, second and third down scenarios. The first was a 21-play drill that included 14 first-down snaps followed by seven third-and-10 plays. The final three periods of actual football were spent running 18 full-team plays, including six each of first down, second down and third-and-10 situations. The morning workout wrapped up with a conditioning period to bring practice 13 of preseason camp to an end.
Defense
Anchored in its defensive line, SFA's defense will strive to be much improved in 2017 from a year ago where the 'Jacks ranked 10th in the Southland Conference in total defense and last in the league in both pass and scoring defense. Opponents scored an average of 38.4 points against SFA in 2016 as the 'Jacks gave up 473 yards per game and 332.6 passing yards per contest.
During the offseason SFA brought in first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Byrd, who came to Nacogdoches after spending the last five seasons at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Known for his aggressive defensive play, Byrd is a coaching veteran who has spent the last 14 seasons as a defensive coordinator at the collegiate level.
"We talk to the guys all the time about getting better little by little every day and that's all you can expect", Coach Byrd said after day 13 of fall camp. "You can't look at being the whole picture, you've got to look at whatever you're doing and make sure you've got whatever we're working on that day better and just keep building those. I think these guys have done a great job of building the little things every day."
Over the past few season, SFA has established a reputation for having one the top defensive lines in the nation, a trend the 'Jacks hope to continue this fall. A season ago, SFA ranked fifth nationally in sacks per game (3.18), sixth in fumbles recovered (13), 12th in turnovers forced (26) and 21st in tackles for loss per game (7.4). Much of that success has to do with senior defensive end John Franklin (Greenville, Texas), who ranked among national leaders at the FCS level in tackles for loss (14.5), sacks (8.0), quarterback hurries (9) and forced fumbles (4).
Franklin's 0.36 forced fumbles per game led the Southland and was eighth-best nationally, while his two fumbles recovered were the third-most in the conference and ranked him in the top-25 in the nation. For his performance during the season, Franklin was named to the All-Southland First Team and has been tabbed as a preseason All-Southland First Team selection by the league office. He has also racked up other numerous preseason conference accolades, including being named by College Sports Madness and Emory Hunt's Football Gameplan as a preseason all-conference performer, while being tabbed as "one to watch on defense" by STATS FCS. Franklin is one of the nation's top defensive players and is the anchor of SFA's defensive unit.
Along with Franklin, the 'Jacks' defensive front should once again rank among the best in the league. SFA returns a number of key players, including juniors Lamont Alexander (Nolanville, Texas), a preseason All-Southland Second Team selection, Shaq Anderson (Greenville, Texas) and Demetrion Amie (Fort Worth, Texas). Alexander emerged as a starter for the 'Jacks last season and finished the year with 30 tackles, including 10 solo stops, and a sack, providing constant pressure up front. Anderson saw action in all 11 games in his first season in Nacogdoches, posting 35 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while Amie played in nine games and added seven tackles and 1.5 sacks in his second season as a Lumberjack.
"When you look at guys who standout, there is a bunch of guys doing great things but as a group our defensive line", remarked Coach Byrd on who has really stood out to him. "They are really special, they're playing hard and you've got a lot of size and a lot of length. The effort has been there and it's going to give us a chance to rotate guys in, anytime you're strong up front that helps you throughout the whole defense. There are several guys at other positions but that position group sticks out to me the most."
A question mark for the 'Jacks will be at the linebacker position as SFA will need to fill the holes left from seniors Price Miller and George Stone, the top two tacklers from 2016. However, several linebackers have looked good in fall camp and during last Saturday's scrimmage. One in particular is the "veteran" of the group, junior Ryan Woods (Woodlands, Texas), who is coming off a 2016 season in which he played in nine games with 22 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Eager to make their mark are a trio of sophomores who go their first taste of college football last season. Spencer Choka (Bryan, Texas), Anthony Jacobs (Houston, Texas) and Teddy Britton (San Antonio, Texas) each utilized their redshirt seasons as true freshmen in 2015 before combining for 32 total tackles and a pair of tackles for loss in relief roles last year. Those three, along with Woods, will be looked upon to lead the middle of SFA's defense.
The 'Jacks' secondary was an area hit hard by injuries in 2016, especially at the cornerback position. Thankfully, SFA has a number of upperclassmen across the backfield, including senior cornerbacks Trent Perriman (Miami, Fla.) and Aaron Foy (Kilgore, Texas) and senior safety Marlon Walls (Pearland, Texas). Perriman made 35 tackles to complement 10 pass breakups, a pair of interceptions and a forced fumble last year, while Foy played in six games with five starts before his junior season was cut short due to injury. Walls finished with 62 total tackles and a team-best 37 solo stops a season ago. As SFA football's first-ever first team College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American, Walls continues to emerge as one of SFA's top leaders both on and off the field. He was named 2016 Southland Conference Football Student-Athlete of the Year, a FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star, a finalist for the FCS Doris Robinson Scholar Athlete of the Year Award and was nominated for a spot on the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team earlier this summer.
Junior cornerback Tarrin Mitchell (Dallas, Texas) and junior safety Lawrence Ghansah (Cypress, Texas) will also be key contributors to the defense's secondary. Mitchell battled through nagging injuries for the majority of 2016, playing in 10 games with five starts and accumulating 24 tackles with a pair of interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He is the most experienced player among the corners, making 21 game appearances in his Lumberjack career. Ghansah played in all 11 games in 2016, registering 29 total tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss.
A number younger players also made key contributions for the 'Jacks last year, including sophomore safeties Alize Ward (San Diego, Calif.), a preseason All-Southland Second Team kick returner, and Trey Ramos (Azle, Texas). Both look to have standout seasons in 2017 after Ward ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 59 and claimed All-Southland honorable mention honors. Ramos came on strong over the last half of the season, finishing with 16 tackles and a fumble recovery playing both defensively and on special teams.
"It's been work ethic", commented Coach Byrd when asked what has impressed him most about his defense. "We had to teach them how to work and do some things a little differently and challenged and stressed them a little bit, but they've rallied to that challenge. They're doing everything we ask them to do. If they just keep getting better with the little things, the effort has been there and the attitude has been great, it's just the little things within the execution that we've got to continue to work on."
SFA will practice in just helmets, jerseys and shorts Friday as the 'Jacks host their usual morning session at 9:15 a.m. on the grass fields behind the SFA Fieldhouse. Saturday, the 'Jacks will hold their second full-contact scrimmage of fall camp inside Homer Bryce with a 4 p.m. start time.
The 'Jacks open up the 2017 season at SMU on Saturday, Sept. 2, before beginning the home portion of their schedule the following weekend against Southern Utah (Sept. 9).
Season tickets for 2017 SFA Football are on sale through the SFA athletics ticket office and can be purchased here. Available season ticket packages include reserved chair back and reserved bench seats. SFA football season tickets start at only $63 for the general public and $38 for faculty and staff. For more information, call 936-468-5225 (JACK).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete 2017 fall camp coverage.
2017 SFA FOOTBALL FALL CAMP SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 18 – Practice 14 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Helmets
Saturday, Aug. 19 (Scrimmage Two) – Practice 15 (4 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Full Pads
Monday, Aug. 21 – Practice 16 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Practice Field* | Attire: Shells
Tuesday, Aug. 22 – Practice 17 (9:15 a.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Shells
Wednesday, Aug. 23 (Scrimmage Three) – Practice 18 (7 p.m.)
Location: Homer Bryce Stadium | Attire: Full Pads
* – Practice fields located behind the athletics fieldhouse
-SFA-
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