The second week of fall camp is officially underway, and the Tigers took the field today for the first practice of the week. There was no practice yesterday, so the team was coming in relatively fresh.
First, there were not any notable absences at first look, but what I was able to see was Gabe Reliford and Aidan Anding with shoulder pads and helmets on, off to the side doing some light work and spending some time on the bike. Reliford is rehabbing a torn ACL and has recently been posting videos of himself
running in straight lines. There’s a small chance we could see Reliford make a return this season, depending on how well his rehab goes. Based on when the injury took place, I would not at all be surprised if he makes a return sometime in October or November.
Anding, on the other hand, is coming back from a torn Achilles. It is very surprising to see him this involved after suffering that injury in the spring. Hopefully, this is a sign that the young DB is well ahead of schedule and is also putting himself in position for a possible return.
Now, today it was also refreshing during the individual period to see true freshman Lamar Brown leading the unit by taking reps first. No, this does not mean he is starting, but at a certain point, the staff understands that he needs to get the work in order to be where they need him to be. Also, it shows that he has earned the extra attention. Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross were right behind him, and Jaiden Breaker is looking better after each practice session.
I spent my time in the same area as I did on Saturday, and I was able to get another look at the offensive line. The way the group was divided, no true rotation for starters and reserves could be determined, but I was able to see Weston Davis work a drill with a chute over him and a defender in front of him. They were working on run blocking, and the former five-star looked really good during this drill. His form, technique, violence, and explosiveness were on display, and that was very refreshing to see.
After that, I spent the remainder of the time I had viewing the quarterbacks and wide receivers working on route concepts against zone defenders.
I’ve said this before, and I will say it again: Sam Leavitt looks really good. His arm strength, ball placement, and footwork all continue to stand out. The rhythm he’s developing with his receivers is improving every day. I did not see a single ball he threw hit the ground while I was watching him, and I was able to see about 10-12 reps.
One final note is that Deuce Geralds and Richard Anderson are still the starting interior defensive linemen. Faheem Delane was also still in at the other safety spot opposite Ty Benefield. At some point early this season, it will be very likely that the Tigers will be playing three true freshmen along the defensive line at the same time, as well as a sophomore at safety and cornerback in Faheem Delane and DJ Pickett.
The youth on this roster is very talented, but that level of inexperience can present some challenges. I do trust this staff to get these guys ready and utilize the veteran players they have to help accelerate the growth of this young group.
Practice will be tomorrow night after 6 p.m. This will be the first full-padded practice of camp, and the media will be allowed to view a few periods of that practice.
What has been the most surprising news of fall camp to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
