TSU Tiger Camp Report: Day Eight

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  The Tennessee State football team opened its second week of fall camp on Monday with a two-hour practice that ended just before noon.

“It was great to come out today, after having yesterday off, and have a crisp practice,” head coach Rod Reed said. “I thought the intensity was high with the defense setting the tone, early. But the offense came back with a couple of big plays, so I’m excited about the energy level shown in today’s practice.”

Most of offense’s big plays came through the air as freshman quarterback Ronald Butler picked apart the TSU secondary for most of the team drills. The Tallahassee, Fla. native looked sharp, hitting receivers all around the field and making the right reads.

Early in the team session, Butler hit senior receiver Devin Wilson with a bomb that went right over the defender’s head and into his target’s arms. The score got the offense going after the defensive front-seven stymied TSU’s running backs early in the drills.

The offense struck again around ten plays later when Butler threaded the needle on a pass to freshman Michael Whitaker that inexplicably missed the outstretched arms of David Van Dyke and Martine Stevenson. Whitaker was left with a clear path to the end zone.

The final score of the day came from a straight go-route in which freshman Lavatiae Kelly beat his man and Butler laid the ball in perfectly down the sideline for a touchdown.

It wasn’t all good for the Tiger’s attack, as the defense held TSU’s backs in check for most of the day and Samquan Evans and Jack Ndem were in the quarterback’s face for much of the morning. Ndem even swatted a ball at the line to the delight of his defensive teammates.

TSU will look to continue to improve tomorrow, as the squad will take on Bethune-Cookman in the John Merritt Classic in just 19 days.

This Week's Practice ScheduleTUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #9 (FULLWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #10 (FULLTHURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013 - 7:30-9:30 PRACTICE #11 (FULLFRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013 - 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #12 (FULL
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013- 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #13 (FULLMONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2013- 9:15-11:30 PRACTICE #14 (FULL)

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION