Newcomers making strong impression in preseason
8/14/2015 1:55:00 PM | Football
One week into preseason training camp, the aspect of the 2015 Sam Houston football team that has jumped out to both coaches and players is depth.
“Our ones, twos and threes can play,” junior linebacker Myke Chatman said. “In the past we've had a lot of role players, which is not a bad thing. But many of the threes were only special team players. Now we have threes that can come into the game and back up people at all the positions.”
Following the Bearkats' first of three preseason scrimmages Saturday at Elliott T. Bowers, head coach K. C. Keeler echoed his All-Southland Conference linebacker.
“We really like this freshmen class,” Keeler said. “They're impressive. We've got to get them up to speed, but this freshman class bodes well for the future.”
A pair of transfers – tight end 6-3 230-pound Collin Rison from Arizona Western and running back 5-10 190-pound Cory Avery from Kansas -- also have caught the coaching staff's eye.
“Colin Rison is a big tight end who has done a nice job,” Keeler said. “He came in here unexpected, getting our attention late as a juco transfer. Wow. He's done some good things. Corey Avery is every bit as good a running back as I hoped he would be.”
The players believe the intense competition at every position in camp really helps the team.
“Competition is everything,” Chatman said. “If you've got a young guy that's pushing you and has a high motor, it makes you want to work harder.”
Friday morning's scrimmage saw a lot of scoring with each of the running backs getting in the end zone. Jared Johnson, Jeremiah Briscoe and Don King III all took turns at quarterback.
“There were times where the offense really looked sharp and when the defense was sharp,” Keeler said. “We were a little inconsistent on both sides. We're a long way from being ready for the opener, but at the same time we saw a lot of competition and enthusiasm out there. I like how we're coming together but, as I told the team afterwards, we're in a race against time. Sept. 5 and Texas Tech are just around the corner.”
The Bearkats will hold practice sessions at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Monday and take a day off from work on the field on Sunday. The team's second scrimmage is slated for Wednesday at 8 a.m.
“We have three priorities,” Keeler said. “The first thing is to make sure the players are in shape. The second is to make sure they understand the office and the defense. The last thing is that, realizing that it is impossible to simulate a real football game with the crowd, the clock and the intensity, you have to put the players in situations that are as close as possible to the real thing with the hope that, by the time it's Sept. 5, they've had enough experiences that they're ready to play.”
Sam Houston and Texas Tech will kick off at 2:30 p.m. The Bearkats open their home schedule Saturday, Sept. 19 with their first Southland Conference matchup versus Lamar.
Season tickets for all six home games plus the 90th “Battle of the Piney Woods” presented by H-E-B at NRG Stadium in Houston are on sale online now at www.gobearkats.com and at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located on the west side of Bowers Stadium. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
