Photo by: SFA Athletics
2017 SFA Football Fall Camp Report: Freshmen
8/21/2017 6:32:00 PM | Football
The ‘Jacks started their final week of fall camp Monday morning, practicing in shells on the grass fields behind the SFA Fieldhouse
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 and select units, today highlighting the freshmen.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The final week of fall camp began Monday morning for the Stephen F. Austin football program as the Lumberjacks practiced in shells on the grass behind the SFA Fieldhouse. The 20-period practice session lasted a little under two hours with the 'Jacks focusing on positional drills and red zone play.
Making final preparations for SFA's final scrimmage of the preseason held Wednesday evening, the 'Jacks got the morning started with their usual pre-practice drills, dynamic warmup and stretching. The following seven periods of practice were centered on positional drills with one period of 11-on-11 football. The team then worked on the run/play-action pass part of their game as SFA went through 14 plays over two periods.
The bulk of the morning's workout involved several open field and red zone repetitions. The 'Jacks ran 10 open-field plays following six snaps of the third team offense versus the third team defense, before conducting 12 red zone repetitions. SFA worked on punting for a couple of periods and then went back into open field competition with 12 snaps, followed by 12 red zone plays.
The 'Jacks wrapped up day 16 of fall camp with conditioning by positional groups.
Freshmen
Freshmen could make an impact in 2017 as SFA boasts 47 on its roster. Many of those could see significant playing time this fall as 12 of those are redshirts, eight of which were with the 'Jacks during the 2016 season.
Safety Paten Snell (Scurry, Texas), running back Josh McGowen (McAllen, Texas), linebacker Fre'Zarian Harrison (Pittsburg, Texas), offensive lineman Zach Mack (Gatesville, Texas), offensive lineman Cooper Williams (Spring, Texas), defensive tackle Rayshad Nichols (Bridge City, La.), defensive end Jerry Blanks (Galveston, Texas) and defensive tackle Larron Cox (Everman, Texas) each utilized their redshirt season a year ago and participated on SFA's scout teams. The familiarity with the program will help them heading into competition this fall and a few have really stood out in preseason camp.
McGowen had a terrific spring and has continued to work hard during camp, earning the spot as the No. 2 running back during the first two scrimmages. He was a starter at McAllen High School and was named District 30-6A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2015, rushing for 1,474 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Another redshirt freshman looking to make an immediate impact is Williams, who played in four games with three starts on the offensive line as a true freshman in 2016. He saw his first collegiate action in the season opener a year ago, playing against FBS opponent Texas Tech. Williams started at right tackle against West Alabama, at 13th-ranked McNeese State and against Abilene Christian, before suffering a season-ending injury against the Wildcats.
Nichols has also had a fantastic fall camp as he looks to contribute this fall. Redshirting in 2016, Nichols was previously a three-year starter and letter winner at L.W. Higgins High School, playing defensive end, defensive tackle and fullback. A two-time first-team all-district selection, Nichols registered 54 tackles as a senior, including 35 solo stops and 8.0 tackles for loss as a senior.
Head coach Clint Conque has brought in another 21 true freshmen who will be competing for time on the field this fall, including quarterback Zach Smith (Pearland, Texas), safety Andre Wiley (Texarkana, Texas), wide receiver Thomas Nolley (Fort Worth, Texas), running back Dominic Williams (Round Rock, Texas), wide receiver Josh Thompson (Garland, Texas), linebacker Michael McCain (Silsbee, Texas), cornerback Eli Jones (Duncanville, Texas), safety Javon McInnis (Irving, Texas), cornerback Caleb Lawton (Cedar Hill, Texas), safety Gavin Roland (League City, Texas), cornerback Nathan Giles (Royse City, Texas), safety Trenton Gordon (Rowlett, Texas), linebacker Bert Morris (Amarillo, Texas), linebacker Sloan Rodberg (Wills Point, Texas), offensive lineman Marcos Herrera (Magnolia, Texas), offensive lineman Hayden Young (Spring, Texas), offensive lineman Jimmy Price (Houston, Texas), tight end Allen Arclies (Abbeville, La.), wide receiver Dylan Parker (Elysian Fields, Texas), defensive end Holland Malone (Spring, Texas) and defensive tackle Desmond Robinson (Atlanta, Texas).
Arclies has really looked good during preseason camp and appears to be ready for game action after a four-year letter winner career at Abbeville High School in Louisiana. He was a two-time all-district selection, earning first-team honors as a junior, and earned a spot on the all-parish first team twice. Arclies came to Nacogdoches with great size, standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 235 pounds, after registering 75 catches for over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns during his prep career.
At 6-foot-4, Parker adds even more size to a very tall receiving corps. The four-year letter winner at Elysian Fields High School has been great in fall camp workouts and looks to continue his performance throughout the season. Playing wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner, Parker earned six all-district honors, including being named to the first team as a wideout for three seasons and claiming District Utility MVP as a junior in 2015. A 2016 All-East Texas first teamer, Parker finished his prep career with 3,794 receiving yards and 65 total touchdowns, both program records.
SFA will host one final practice of fall camp Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. in Homer Bryce Stadium in shoulder pads, helmets and shorts, before holding its final preseason scrimmage Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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
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 – The final week of fall camp began Monday morning for the Stephen F. Austin football program as the Lumberjacks practiced in shells on the grass behind the SFA Fieldhouse. The 20-period practice session lasted a little under two hours with the 'Jacks focusing on positional drills and red zone play.
Making final preparations for SFA's final scrimmage of the preseason held Wednesday evening, the 'Jacks got the morning started with their usual pre-practice drills, dynamic warmup and stretching. The following seven periods of practice were centered on positional drills with one period of 11-on-11 football. The team then worked on the run/play-action pass part of their game as SFA went through 14 plays over two periods.
The bulk of the morning's workout involved several open field and red zone repetitions. The 'Jacks ran 10 open-field plays following six snaps of the third team offense versus the third team defense, before conducting 12 red zone repetitions. SFA worked on punting for a couple of periods and then went back into open field competition with 12 snaps, followed by 12 red zone plays.
The 'Jacks wrapped up day 16 of fall camp with conditioning by positional groups.
Freshmen
Freshmen could make an impact in 2017 as SFA boasts 47 on its roster. Many of those could see significant playing time this fall as 12 of those are redshirts, eight of which were with the 'Jacks during the 2016 season.
Safety Paten Snell (Scurry, Texas), running back Josh McGowen (McAllen, Texas), linebacker Fre'Zarian Harrison (Pittsburg, Texas), offensive lineman Zach Mack (Gatesville, Texas), offensive lineman Cooper Williams (Spring, Texas), defensive tackle Rayshad Nichols (Bridge City, La.), defensive end Jerry Blanks (Galveston, Texas) and defensive tackle Larron Cox (Everman, Texas) each utilized their redshirt season a year ago and participated on SFA's scout teams. The familiarity with the program will help them heading into competition this fall and a few have really stood out in preseason camp.
McGowen had a terrific spring and has continued to work hard during camp, earning the spot as the No. 2 running back during the first two scrimmages. He was a starter at McAllen High School and was named District 30-6A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2015, rushing for 1,474 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Another redshirt freshman looking to make an immediate impact is Williams, who played in four games with three starts on the offensive line as a true freshman in 2016. He saw his first collegiate action in the season opener a year ago, playing against FBS opponent Texas Tech. Williams started at right tackle against West Alabama, at 13th-ranked McNeese State and against Abilene Christian, before suffering a season-ending injury against the Wildcats.
Nichols has also had a fantastic fall camp as he looks to contribute this fall. Redshirting in 2016, Nichols was previously a three-year starter and letter winner at L.W. Higgins High School, playing defensive end, defensive tackle and fullback. A two-time first-team all-district selection, Nichols registered 54 tackles as a senior, including 35 solo stops and 8.0 tackles for loss as a senior.
Head coach Clint Conque has brought in another 21 true freshmen who will be competing for time on the field this fall, including quarterback Zach Smith (Pearland, Texas), safety Andre Wiley (Texarkana, Texas), wide receiver Thomas Nolley (Fort Worth, Texas), running back Dominic Williams (Round Rock, Texas), wide receiver Josh Thompson (Garland, Texas), linebacker Michael McCain (Silsbee, Texas), cornerback Eli Jones (Duncanville, Texas), safety Javon McInnis (Irving, Texas), cornerback Caleb Lawton (Cedar Hill, Texas), safety Gavin Roland (League City, Texas), cornerback Nathan Giles (Royse City, Texas), safety Trenton Gordon (Rowlett, Texas), linebacker Bert Morris (Amarillo, Texas), linebacker Sloan Rodberg (Wills Point, Texas), offensive lineman Marcos Herrera (Magnolia, Texas), offensive lineman Hayden Young (Spring, Texas), offensive lineman Jimmy Price (Houston, Texas), tight end Allen Arclies (Abbeville, La.), wide receiver Dylan Parker (Elysian Fields, Texas), defensive end Holland Malone (Spring, Texas) and defensive tackle Desmond Robinson (Atlanta, Texas).
Arclies has really looked good during preseason camp and appears to be ready for game action after a four-year letter winner career at Abbeville High School in Louisiana. He was a two-time all-district selection, earning first-team honors as a junior, and earned a spot on the all-parish first team twice. Arclies came to Nacogdoches with great size, standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 235 pounds, after registering 75 catches for over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns during his prep career.
At 6-foot-4, Parker adds even more size to a very tall receiving corps. The four-year letter winner at Elysian Fields High School has been great in fall camp workouts and looks to continue his performance throughout the season. Playing wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner, Parker earned six all-district honors, including being named to the first team as a wideout for three seasons and claiming District Utility MVP as a junior in 2015. A 2016 All-East Texas first teamer, Parker finished his prep career with 3,794 receiving yards and 65 total touchdowns, both program records.
SFA will host one final practice of fall camp Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. in Homer Bryce Stadium in shoulder pads, helmets and shorts, before holding its final preseason scrimmage Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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
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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