Photo by: SFA Athletics
SFA Football Fall Camp Report | Tight Ends
8/19/2018 5:14:00 PM | Football
‘Jacks return to practice schedule, begin final week of fall camp Sunday afternoon
The 2018 Stephen F. Austin football season is just around the corner and the Lumberjacks have begun fall camp, beginning the countdown to the 92nd season of Lumberjack football in Nacogdoches. Throughout the preseason camp, SFAJacks.com will break down each position or area of the team, this evening highlighting the tight ends.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – After its second scrimmage of the preseason Saturday morning, the Stephen F. Austin football team continued its preparation for the Lumberjacks' 2018 campaign with its 15th practice of fall camp Sunday afternoon. SFA returned to the pair of grass practice fields behind the athletics fieldhouse for a much lighter and shorter 3:30 p.m. workout in helmets, jerseys and shorts.
Met by another blistering east Texas day, the 'Jacks took on a 12-period practice that lasted just over an hour following SFA's full-contact run through Saturday. Sunday's practice session got underway with the Lumberjacks' taking part in their usual pre-workout positional drills, dynamic warmup and stretching, before getting into the meat of the afternoon.
With the main emphasis of the practice on special teams, the first half of the workout was spent on both the coverage and return of punts and kickoffs. The offense and defense took to each of their respective sidelines for the remainder of practice as SFA ran eight plays of offensive corrections versus the defense and another eight plays of defensive corrections versus the offense.
"I think everybody got better from yesterday," tight ends coach Jeff Bowen commented after Sunday afternoon's session. "Coming back out here today we corrected a few things moving forward into game prep and next week."
"I'm excited about our depth at a lot of positions," coach Bowen continued. "Our skill guys here are amazing at a lot of different spots. At running back, we have a lot of different guys who bring a lot of things to the table. Our tight end group especially, we've got some depth there rolling in and out of personnel. The quarterbacks have been doing a great job and the offensive line is finally getting some depth in that position. You see it every day, guys might not think they are getting better but day after day you can see huge improvements from the whole group. That's what camp has been about and we have to continue that moving forward."
Tight Ends
Undoubtedly the youngest position group on the offensive side of the ball, only one of SFA's seven tight ends has seen the field for game action heading into the 2017 season. With the absence of graduated leader Will Taylor, the 'Jacks will turn to young talent for key outside blocking and reliable receiving.
Sophomore Allen Arclies III is the lone tight end to have played in a game wearing the Purple and White. He makes his return after suffering a season-ending ankle injury during the fourth game of the year in 2017, seeing game action in the first four games of the season as a true freshman. In those games, Arclies III claimed three catches for 33 yards, hauling in two passes for 29 yards, including a 22-yard reception, in the 20-10 win at Abilene Christian.
"We've got a pretty strong corps of guys as a unit," Arclies said Sunday following practice. "We can do it all, we all can run routes, spread out and be in the trenches blocking. Off the field, we all hangout and bond as a group. It's like brotherhood."
Tony Gilbert II, the son of cornerbacks coach Tony Gilbert, is the only other returning tight end for SFA after redshirting as a true freshman last fall.
The 'Jacks welcome a pair of transfers who could immediately contribute in junior Bryce Wempa (Tyler J.C.) and Donte Coleman (Fresno State). Wempa was rated as the nation's No. 1 JUCO tight end by Scout.com entering the 2017 season and played in 13 games for the Apaches. Coleman has been quite impressive during fall camp workouts after spending two years at Mountain West Conference member Fresno State, where he redshirted as a true freshman in 2016. SFA will also have the services of a couple of skilled freshmen with Barclay Ford (North Forney) and Ryan Waugh (Crockett) looking to make an impact in their inaugural collegiate seasons.
Fall Camp Continues
SFA has just five more practices of fall camp remaining, returning to the grass practice fields Monday morning at 8:15 a.m. in helmets, shoulder pads, jerseys and shorts. Tuesday, the 'Jacks will continue with their second consecutive morning practice as they will take to the gridiron in complete pads for a full-contact workout.
With the exception of the Lumberjacks' three intra-squad scrimmages, all practices will take place on the two grass practice fields behind the SFA athletics fieldhouse.
The complete fall camp schedule can be found below.
2018 SFA Football Fall Camp Schedule
Practice #16 | Monday, Aug. 20 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #17 | Tuesday, Aug. 21 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Full Pads
Practice #18 | Wednesday, Aug. 22 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #19 | Thursday, Aug. 23 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Scrimmage #3 | Friday, Aug. 24 | 6:30 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium | Full Pads
Fans and supporters of SFA athletics will have the chance to meet the Lumberjack football team at the 38th annual Meet the 'Jacks held this Tuesday, Aug. 21. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Fredonia Hotel and is sponsored by the Fredonia Rotary Club. The 2018 SFA football team will be introduced by position, followed by a first-hand look at this season's intro video. The 'Jacks will also be available for photos and will be signing autographs on SFA's posters.
Week One
The 'Jacks open up their 2018 season Saturday, Sept. 1 with a trip to Starkville, Mississippi, to face Southeastern Conference mainstay Mississippi State. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU, available everywhere via the ESPN app. SFA hosts NCAA Division II Tarleton State in a 6 p.m. tilt for its home opener Saturday, Sept. 8.
SFA Football Season Tickets
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2018 SFA football season can visit the new home for SFA Tickets at SFATickets.com or contact the SFA Athletic Ticket Office at 936-468-JACK.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout the 2018 season.
-SFA-
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – After its second scrimmage of the preseason Saturday morning, the Stephen F. Austin football team continued its preparation for the Lumberjacks' 2018 campaign with its 15th practice of fall camp Sunday afternoon. SFA returned to the pair of grass practice fields behind the athletics fieldhouse for a much lighter and shorter 3:30 p.m. workout in helmets, jerseys and shorts.
Met by another blistering east Texas day, the 'Jacks took on a 12-period practice that lasted just over an hour following SFA's full-contact run through Saturday. Sunday's practice session got underway with the Lumberjacks' taking part in their usual pre-workout positional drills, dynamic warmup and stretching, before getting into the meat of the afternoon.
With the main emphasis of the practice on special teams, the first half of the workout was spent on both the coverage and return of punts and kickoffs. The offense and defense took to each of their respective sidelines for the remainder of practice as SFA ran eight plays of offensive corrections versus the defense and another eight plays of defensive corrections versus the offense.
"I think everybody got better from yesterday," tight ends coach Jeff Bowen commented after Sunday afternoon's session. "Coming back out here today we corrected a few things moving forward into game prep and next week."
"I'm excited about our depth at a lot of positions," coach Bowen continued. "Our skill guys here are amazing at a lot of different spots. At running back, we have a lot of different guys who bring a lot of things to the table. Our tight end group especially, we've got some depth there rolling in and out of personnel. The quarterbacks have been doing a great job and the offensive line is finally getting some depth in that position. You see it every day, guys might not think they are getting better but day after day you can see huge improvements from the whole group. That's what camp has been about and we have to continue that moving forward."
Tight Ends
Undoubtedly the youngest position group on the offensive side of the ball, only one of SFA's seven tight ends has seen the field for game action heading into the 2017 season. With the absence of graduated leader Will Taylor, the 'Jacks will turn to young talent for key outside blocking and reliable receiving.
Sophomore Allen Arclies III is the lone tight end to have played in a game wearing the Purple and White. He makes his return after suffering a season-ending ankle injury during the fourth game of the year in 2017, seeing game action in the first four games of the season as a true freshman. In those games, Arclies III claimed three catches for 33 yards, hauling in two passes for 29 yards, including a 22-yard reception, in the 20-10 win at Abilene Christian.
"We've got a pretty strong corps of guys as a unit," Arclies said Sunday following practice. "We can do it all, we all can run routes, spread out and be in the trenches blocking. Off the field, we all hangout and bond as a group. It's like brotherhood."
Tony Gilbert II, the son of cornerbacks coach Tony Gilbert, is the only other returning tight end for SFA after redshirting as a true freshman last fall.
The 'Jacks welcome a pair of transfers who could immediately contribute in junior Bryce Wempa (Tyler J.C.) and Donte Coleman (Fresno State). Wempa was rated as the nation's No. 1 JUCO tight end by Scout.com entering the 2017 season and played in 13 games for the Apaches. Coleman has been quite impressive during fall camp workouts after spending two years at Mountain West Conference member Fresno State, where he redshirted as a true freshman in 2016. SFA will also have the services of a couple of skilled freshmen with Barclay Ford (North Forney) and Ryan Waugh (Crockett) looking to make an impact in their inaugural collegiate seasons.
Fall Camp Continues
SFA has just five more practices of fall camp remaining, returning to the grass practice fields Monday morning at 8:15 a.m. in helmets, shoulder pads, jerseys and shorts. Tuesday, the 'Jacks will continue with their second consecutive morning practice as they will take to the gridiron in complete pads for a full-contact workout.
With the exception of the Lumberjacks' three intra-squad scrimmages, all practices will take place on the two grass practice fields behind the SFA athletics fieldhouse.
The complete fall camp schedule can be found below.
2018 SFA Football Fall Camp Schedule
Practice #16 | Monday, Aug. 20 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #17 | Tuesday, Aug. 21 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Full Pads
Practice #18 | Wednesday, Aug. 22 | 3:15 p.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Practice #19 | Thursday, Aug. 23 | 8:15 a.m. | Practice Fields | Shells
Scrimmage #3 | Friday, Aug. 24 | 6:30 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium | Full Pads
- Practice time and location subject to change dependent on weather
Fans and supporters of SFA athletics will have the chance to meet the Lumberjack football team at the 38th annual Meet the 'Jacks held this Tuesday, Aug. 21. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Fredonia Hotel and is sponsored by the Fredonia Rotary Club. The 2018 SFA football team will be introduced by position, followed by a first-hand look at this season's intro video. The 'Jacks will also be available for photos and will be signing autographs on SFA's posters.
Week One
The 'Jacks open up their 2018 season Saturday, Sept. 1 with a trip to Starkville, Mississippi, to face Southeastern Conference mainstay Mississippi State. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU, available everywhere via the ESPN app. SFA hosts NCAA Division II Tarleton State in a 6 p.m. tilt for its home opener Saturday, Sept. 8.
SFA Football Season Tickets
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2018 SFA football season can visit the new home for SFA Tickets at SFATickets.com or contact the SFA Athletic Ticket Office at 936-468-JACK.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout the 2018 season.
-SFA-
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