Spring ball reaches halfway mark Saturday
3/27/2015 10:03:00 AM | Football
Saturday morning marks the halfway point of 2015 Sam Houston football spring practice and Bearkat head coach K. C. Keeler is extremely pleased with what he has seen in the first two weeks of drills.
“We're very happy,” Keeler said of his squad that returns 54 lettermen and 20 starters from Sam Houston's 11-5 Southland Conference championship team.
The atmosphere on the turf at Bowers Stadium for spring practice is remarkably different from Keeler's first spring a year ago when a new coaching staff oversaw a spring practice with only eight players on the field who would become starters for the 2014 FCS semi-finalists during the fall.
“We're light years ahead of where we were at this time last year,” Keeler said. “In many ways, we're ahead of where we were at the end of the season. I think the kids feel that way too.”
Sam Houston State lost only two senior starters to graduation. Seven players who earned either first or second team All-America honors are back. Six other All-Southland honorable mention selections also are back on the field.
“Brian Hess (SHSU strength and conditioning coach) did a phenomenal job with the guys in the weight room in the off season,” Keeler said. “We're really strong and fit. Lt. Col. David Yebra did an amazing job with our guys with a leadership development program that was a big point of emphasis in the off-season. We're a different team right now.”
Sam Houston will hold an 80 to 90 play scrimmage Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Keeler is excited about the team's attitude.
“The kids have been competing hard. We should have some pretty good scrimmages coming up here,” Keeler said. “It's too early right now to talk about starters but we're very pleased with what we're seeing. The defense has really been dominate. They've looked great. Offensively, we're very pleased with the progress we've been making as well.”
Newcomers who have impressed the head coach include linebackers Collins Okotcha and Jevonte Cross and offensive lineman Curtis Riser. Okotcha is a redshirt freshman from Coppell. Cross and Riser are transfers from Northeastern Oklahoma and Texas, respectively.
“We've got a lot of talent out there on the field, but it's not the talent level that is most impressive,” Keeler said. “It's the energy level and how the players are competing. The players think we're going to be something special.”
Sam Houston spring ball will end with the annual Orange-White game on Friday, April 10, at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium. The spring game will begin at 7 p.m.
