Tennessee State Tiger Camp Report: Day Five

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- The Tennessee State football team completed Friday’s practice inside the Indoor Practice Facility for fear of inclement weather the likes of the previous two days. There was marked improvement team-wide from Monday to the fifth practice.

“We have a veteran group returning this year,” head coach Rod Reed said. “So they are catching on to the system a lot quicker. Now we are just trying to get the new guys some reps.”

The upperclassmen dominated Friday’s session, especially in the defensive front-seven where linebackers Wilson Robinson and Nick Thrasher were flying around all day. Thrasher made many stops on running plays, while Robinson came out of nowhere to deflect a pass during the latter portion of practice.

“This is a different Wilson Robinson than I have seen in the past few years. He seems to have an agenda and is much more focused on details and refining his skills,” Reed said.

On the offensive side of the ball, the quarterbacks threw the ball better on Friday, but the running backs produced the biggest plays. True freshman Tevin Spells made two eye-opening cuts on a run that seemed to be doomed from the start, and ended up in the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown. Spells’s long run was one of many by TSU’s backs, providing even more question marks as to who would be getting the most carries come Sept. 1.

“Three years ago, I made a promise that we would never be short on running backs. We may have an overflow at the position [now], but it’s a good problem to have,” Reed said.

Big Blue will scrimmage tomorrow from 7:30-9:30 a.m. to wrap up the first week of fall camp.

This Week's Practice Schedule
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2013- 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #6 (SHELLS)
MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #8 (FULL)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #9 (FULL)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #10 (FULL)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #11 (FULL)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #12 (FULL)

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION