Photo by: SFA Athletics
Lumberjack Football Opens Spring Practice Under the Lights
3/26/2019 2:36:00 PM | Football
SFA begins spring football practices Monday night to start five-week, 15-date schedule
NACOGDOCHES – The lights of Homer Bryce Stadium were shining bright Monday night inside Homer Bryce Stadium as the Lumberjacks began their 2019 spring football schedule with practice one of the Colby Carthel era. SFA took to the turf in helmets, jerseys, shorts and cleats for its first on-field football workout of the spring with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees at the start.
With head coach Colby Carthel overseeing all facets of the practice, the Lumberjacks' new staff got their first hands-on work with the players as SFA took part in a 24-period session on opening night. Energy and enthusiasm was high during the first of back-to-back non-contact practices to begin spring ball.
"It was a good start, the guys came out and had a lot of energy and a lot of effort which is fun to see," coach Carthel said following the first spring practice. "We've got a long ways to go but I'm very pleased with the way they came out and picked up a new offense and defense and actually looked like a football team out there. There is still a lot to improve on which we'll work on tomorrow."
"The guys that are here are doing things right off the field, which is what they've got to do first," Carthel continued. "You've got to be a champion off the field before you can even think about being on the field. The thing that has been so much fun for us as coaches is how hungry these guys are. There is some good talent here and some good kids here, and they're hungry to win. Hopefully we put together the little things day in and day out that you've got to do to have a chance to win in the fall but so far, we really like what we see from this team."
Day one's practice got underway with one-on-one drills, individual sessions broken up by positions and special teams work, before the 'Jacks worked on offensive and defensive playbook install. The night was highlighted by four periods of team plays, in addition to sections focused on play action pass, 7-on-7 drills, pass rush, screen pass and team run versus blitz.
SFA will continue its five-week, 15-date spring practice schedule tonight with its second-straight non-contact practice in helmets, jerseys and shorts. The 'Jacks will put on shoulder pads for the first time of the spring Thursday, March 28 when they host their third spring ball practice under the lights. This Saturday, March 30, SFA will take to the field in shells once again for its first morning session of 2019.
A complete spring football schedule can be found below with all weekday practices being held at 7 p.m. and each Saturday workout taking place at 10 a.m. The practice schedule will culminate Saturday, April 27 when the 'Jacks host their annual Spring Game, which is slated for 5 p.m. inside Homer Bryce Stadium with a movie on the videoboard to follow.
The coach Carthel era at SFA and the building of a championship program has already gained national attention with the Lumberjacks' signing the third-best FCS class in the nation and the top in the Southland Conference across the two signing periods in December and February. The 'Jacks received signed National Letters of Intent (NLI's) from an impressive 10 three-star recruits, ranking SFA's 2019 class ahead of a plethora of FCS powerhouses and several FBS programs.
With 50 total returning letter winners in 2019, including 19 starters coming back, the 'Jacks welcome a total of 35 newcomers to its roster for this fall.
A full list of 2019 Lumberjack football newcomers can be found on SFA's National Signing Day central page, SFAJacks.com/feature/NSD19, which is updated throughout the signing period (Feb. 6-April 1).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football.
2019 SFA Spring Football Practice Dates
• Tuesday, March 26 | 7 p.m. | Helmets
• Thursday, March 28 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Saturday, March 30 | 10 a.m. | Shells
• Tuesday, April 2 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Thursday, April 4 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Saturday, April 6 | 10 a.m. | Full Pads
• Tuesday, April 9 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Thursday, April 11 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Saturday, April 13 | 10 a.m. | Full Pads
• Monday, April 15 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Wednesday, April 17 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Tuesday, April 23 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Thursday, April 25 | 7 p.m. | Helmets
• Saturday, April 27 | Spring Game | 5 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium
-SFA-
With head coach Colby Carthel overseeing all facets of the practice, the Lumberjacks' new staff got their first hands-on work with the players as SFA took part in a 24-period session on opening night. Energy and enthusiasm was high during the first of back-to-back non-contact practices to begin spring ball.
"It was a good start, the guys came out and had a lot of energy and a lot of effort which is fun to see," coach Carthel said following the first spring practice. "We've got a long ways to go but I'm very pleased with the way they came out and picked up a new offense and defense and actually looked like a football team out there. There is still a lot to improve on which we'll work on tomorrow."
"The guys that are here are doing things right off the field, which is what they've got to do first," Carthel continued. "You've got to be a champion off the field before you can even think about being on the field. The thing that has been so much fun for us as coaches is how hungry these guys are. There is some good talent here and some good kids here, and they're hungry to win. Hopefully we put together the little things day in and day out that you've got to do to have a chance to win in the fall but so far, we really like what we see from this team."
Day one's practice got underway with one-on-one drills, individual sessions broken up by positions and special teams work, before the 'Jacks worked on offensive and defensive playbook install. The night was highlighted by four periods of team plays, in addition to sections focused on play action pass, 7-on-7 drills, pass rush, screen pass and team run versus blitz.
SFA will continue its five-week, 15-date spring practice schedule tonight with its second-straight non-contact practice in helmets, jerseys and shorts. The 'Jacks will put on shoulder pads for the first time of the spring Thursday, March 28 when they host their third spring ball practice under the lights. This Saturday, March 30, SFA will take to the field in shells once again for its first morning session of 2019.
A complete spring football schedule can be found below with all weekday practices being held at 7 p.m. and each Saturday workout taking place at 10 a.m. The practice schedule will culminate Saturday, April 27 when the 'Jacks host their annual Spring Game, which is slated for 5 p.m. inside Homer Bryce Stadium with a movie on the videoboard to follow.
The coach Carthel era at SFA and the building of a championship program has already gained national attention with the Lumberjacks' signing the third-best FCS class in the nation and the top in the Southland Conference across the two signing periods in December and February. The 'Jacks received signed National Letters of Intent (NLI's) from an impressive 10 three-star recruits, ranking SFA's 2019 class ahead of a plethora of FCS powerhouses and several FBS programs.
With 50 total returning letter winners in 2019, including 19 starters coming back, the 'Jacks welcome a total of 35 newcomers to its roster for this fall.
A full list of 2019 Lumberjack football newcomers can be found on SFA's National Signing Day central page, SFAJacks.com/feature/NSD19, which is updated throughout the signing period (Feb. 6-April 1).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football.
2019 SFA Spring Football Practice Dates
• Tuesday, March 26 | 7 p.m. | Helmets
• Thursday, March 28 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Saturday, March 30 | 10 a.m. | Shells
• Tuesday, April 2 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Thursday, April 4 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Saturday, April 6 | 10 a.m. | Full Pads
• Tuesday, April 9 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Thursday, April 11 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Saturday, April 13 | 10 a.m. | Full Pads
• Monday, April 15 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Wednesday, April 17 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Tuesday, April 23 | 7 p.m. | Shells
• Thursday, April 25 | 7 p.m. | Helmets
• Saturday, April 27 | Spring Game | 5 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium
-SFA-
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