Spring Practice Begins Today
3/26/2008 3:15:34 PM | Football
Marc Gignac
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Davidson football team will open Spring Practice Wednesday, March 26. The Wildcats will have 15 practice sessions over the next three weeks.
Davidson has 59 players on its spring roster, including 15 returning starters on offense and defense and 28 lettermen.
“I'm excited because we have some depth at most positions, which we haven't always had in the spring,” said coach Tripp Merritt. “Depth allows more interaction between offense and defense; interaction and competition is the only way to get better. This is a very important spring at some positions, especially at receiver and defensive back, where we'll be young but talented next year.”
Returners on offense include quarterback Ryan Alexander, the school's career record holder in passing and all-purpose yardage and an All-Pioneer Football League selection in 2007. Also back are the Wildcats' top three tailbacks, Chad Barnes (372 yards, 2 TDs), Justin Williams (367 yards, 10 TDs) and Kenny Mantuo (316 yards, 7 TDs), as well as starting fullback and All-PFL honoree Kirk Benedict (19 receptions, 175 yards, 4 TDs).
Three-year letterwinner Will Funderburg (9 tackles for loss, 4 sacks) returns on the defensive line along with the team's top two tacklers in All-PFL linebacker Peter Bakke (71 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and safety Matt Easton (71 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 2 sacks).
Taking part in his first on-field workouts will be new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Ryan Heasley, who made his way to Davidson from Washington University in St. Louis. The Bears were 7-3 last season and are one of 15 schools at any level to post 15 consecutive winning campaigns.
“Offensively, we're not going to be that far removed from where we've been the last few
years schematically, so we're going to continue to build on that during spring practice,” said Merritt. “Coach Heasley is bringing some fresh new ideas and concepts to the table along with some new terminology, formations and personnel groupings. We as a staff and team must embrace change and new concepts. More importantly, we must continue to get better from a fundamental and technique standpoint.”
Davidson has 59 players on its spring roster, including 15 returning starters on offense and defense and 28 lettermen.
“I'm excited because we have some depth at most positions, which we haven't always had in the spring,” said coach Tripp Merritt. “Depth allows more interaction between offense and defense; interaction and competition is the only way to get better. This is a very important spring at some positions, especially at receiver and defensive back, where we'll be young but talented next year.”
Returners on offense include quarterback Ryan Alexander, the school's career record holder in passing and all-purpose yardage and an All-Pioneer Football League selection in 2007. Also back are the Wildcats' top three tailbacks, Chad Barnes (372 yards, 2 TDs), Justin Williams (367 yards, 10 TDs) and Kenny Mantuo (316 yards, 7 TDs), as well as starting fullback and All-PFL honoree Kirk Benedict (19 receptions, 175 yards, 4 TDs).
Three-year letterwinner Will Funderburg (9 tackles for loss, 4 sacks) returns on the defensive line along with the team's top two tacklers in All-PFL linebacker Peter Bakke (71 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and safety Matt Easton (71 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 2 sacks).
Taking part in his first on-field workouts will be new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Ryan Heasley, who made his way to Davidson from Washington University in St. Louis. The Bears were 7-3 last season and are one of 15 schools at any level to post 15 consecutive winning campaigns.
“Offensively, we're not going to be that far removed from where we've been the last few
years schematically, so we're going to continue to build on that during spring practice,” said Merritt. “Coach Heasley is bringing some fresh new ideas and concepts to the table along with some new terminology, formations and personnel groupings. We as a staff and team must embrace change and new concepts. More importantly, we must continue to get better from a fundamental and technique standpoint.”
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