SFA Football Fall Camp Report | Offensive Line

Photo by: SFA Athletics

SFA Football Fall Camp Report | Offensive Line

8/21/2018 10:38:00 AM | Football

‘Jacks host second consecutive practice in shells Tuesday morning for 17th fall camp practice

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

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, today highlighting the offensive line.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The two grass practice fields behind the Stephen F. Austin athletics fieldhouse came alive Tuesday morning as the football team put on shoulder pads for its 17th practice of fall camp. The Lumberjacks participated in the workout with an extra sense of energy as the first half of practice was streamed live on the NCAA FCS' social media pages.

Continuing with its final week of fall camp, SFA hosted a 20-period practice in clear but stifling conditions. With the emphasis of the morning being discipline, the 'Jacks began the day with their standard stretching, pre-practice positional drills and dynamic warmup, before diving into special teams work. In addition to working on stances and starts, SFA practiced its point-after attempts, field goals, punts and punt return formations.

The 'Jacks then focused on three-by-one perimeter screens and running back versus linebacker one-on-one drills, followed by inside run work and wide receiver/defensive back one-on-one drills. With the offensive and defensive lines participating in one-on-one sets, the rest of the team ran 16 six-on-eight "skeleton" plays. The entire squad came together for 18 split team plays as the first-team offense took on the second and third-team defense and vice versa.

Much like the final portions of Monday's practice, SFA conducted 16 team run plays before taking part in eight first-and-10 blitz pickup plays. The 17th workout of the preseason came to a close with a mock two-minute drill, the offense having 1:43 and a pair of timeouts to advance the ball down the field while trailing by three points.

"I'll tell you what, the culture is really changing around here," offensive line coach Dan Clark said following Tuesday's practice session. "We've seen improvements from day one to day 17, especially the offensive line. The guys are in the trenches fighting and clawing every day, showing up for work and getting the job done. I'm really pleased right now, we've got a long way to go but with a couple days here before game week starts I'm pleased with how the guys have accepted the culture change, commitment to details and wanting to do right."

Offensive Line
In order for any offense to be successful it must have a strong offensive line. Despite lacking experience in some areas, SFA's 2018 offensive front looks poised to be a solid foundation for the Lumberjack running and passing game.

"Everybody is coming together and working hard together," coach Clark commented about his unit. "I'm really pleased with the leadership, the older guys like Josiah Hunter and Hayden Scott. A.J. Brown is another returner who is raising his level every day and trying to improve and has accepted the coaching. A couple of new guys, Chett Munden and Collin Lagarde, have come in and established themselves really well. Some young guys that are making impressions are Jeffrey Rose, Zach Mack and Paul Hill, who moved over and has really brought an edge to our side of the ball."

SFA brings back a number of key pieces on the line, including seniors Hayden Scott and Josiah Hunter and juniors Devonte Jones and A.J. Brown. The 'Jacks will have to fill a hole at left tackle with the graduation of 2017 starter Josh Keith and at center with the departure of Travis Lock, but will have plenty experience in the upper classmen as All-Southland Conference honorable mention honoree Jones started seven games at right tackle last season and the other four at right guard. Brown started seven games at left guard and one at right guard, while Scott made four starts at right guard and one at center. Hunter started the first four games of the season at right tackle and started at left guard once.

Returning sophomores Cooper Williams and Zach Mack, along with redshirt freshmen Hayden Young and Nick Langlois will look to take on larger roles on the offensive line in 2018. Williams appeared in all 11 games and made one start at right guard in 2017 with Mack appearing in six contests and making a start at left guard. Junior Paul Hill, who spent the previous two seasons on SFA's defensive line following his redshirt year in 2015, made the switch to the offensive line during fall camp. Last year, Hill played defensive tackle where he appeared in 10 games and made five tackles with a solo stop and a half tackle for loss.

A trio talented transfers will join the Lumberjacks' offensive front with a pair of juniors, Collin Lagarde (Iowa C.C.) and Chett Munden (North Texas), and sophomore Jerrod Johnson (Tyler J.C.) arriving in Nacogdoches.

SFA also welcomes seven skilled freshmen in John Wilkowski (Cypress Ranch HS), Jeffrey Rose (Cypress Ranch HS), Brandon Barker (Centennial HS), Zeke Garcia (Cy-Fair HS), Max Huff (Prince of Peace), Cole Todd (V.R. Eaton HS) and Clint Lapic (Hallsville HS).

"There are some battles going on right now and I think that's exciting to see how the guys have responded to that," continued coach Clark. "They have to show up to work every day and nothing is given to those guys. I really truly believe we are headed in the right direction."

Fall Camp Continues
Three fall camp practice dates remain for SFA with the 'Jacks heading back out to the grass practice fields Wednesday morning for an 8:15 a.m. workout in shells. Thursday, SFA will continue its morning practices and remain in helmets, shoulder pads, jerseys and shorts, before hosting the Lumberjacks' third and final scrimmage of the preseason Friday night at 6:30 p.m. inside Homer Bryce Stadium.

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 remaining fall camp schedule can be found below.

2018 SFA Football Fall Camp Schedule

Practice #18 | Wednesday, Aug. 22 | 8:15 a.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

Meet the 'Jacks
Fans and supporters of SFA athletics will have the chance to meet the Lumberjack football team tonight at the 38th annual Meet the 'Jacks, sponsored by the Fredonia Rotary Club. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Fredonia Hotel and tickets to the event can be purchased at the door for $15. 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-