Clarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) football team took to the Fortera Stadium turf, Friday morning, August 2nd, for the first practice of fall camp. Despite the rising summer temperatures, the Governors put in tremendous effort preparing for the 2019 season.
The Govs hit the field Friday morning for the first fall practice of the Mark Hudspeth Era. Coach Hudspeth is all about bringing energy to practice, and the excitement to be back on the field was palpable as the team made its way out of the locker room and it continued throughout the morning as the players bounced from one drill to the next.
During their two hours on the field, the APSU Govs worked on individual position drills, special teams drills and wrapped up the day with the offense taking on the defense.
For the first practice report, we’ll hear from the defensive side of the ball about the progress they’ve made since spring practice, the enthusiasm to be back on the field and their comfort level with the new defensive system.
The Govs will return to the practice field tomorrow morning, and we’ll catch up with the offense to hear about their preparations for the upcoming season.
Quoting the APSU Governors
Mark Powell, Defensive Coordinator
On the first day of practice:
“We’re really excited. The defensive staff did a great job of preparing and getting everything ready. We have a lot of guys that are having a lot of fun playing football, and that’s our biggest thing. These guys love the game, and they’re playing fast, they’re playing together, they’re running to the football. Takeaways, we need to get them. We did an OK job there. We need to get better, but overall, good first day.”
On the defensive players’ understanding of the system:
“I think we’re way ahead of the game, especially where we were in the spring. We were able to accelerate the install a little bit. You came out to walk-throughs during the spring and there wasn’t that much communication. You come out Day One in the fall and everybody’s communicating, everybody knows their jobs. It’s a great feeling.”
On the energy level of practice:
“The energy level was a big-time high. You can see and feel the energy Day One in camp. Football is back so we’re all really excited and we’re all fired up. Our guys are really buying into it.”
Juantarius Bryant, Defensive Back
On the energy level of practice:
“I feel like we had a great amount of energy. I feel like we’re ahead as a football team and we had a great first day of practice.”
On his comfort level with the defense:
“I feel like I’ve been playing in this defense my whole time here.”
Isaiah Norman, Defensive Back
On the first day of practice:
“After the first day of practice, I feel great. We had a great summer as a team – I feel like we bonded together as a team. I’m on the defensive side of the ball so I can only speak for the defense, but we played really well today.”
On the energy level of practice:
“I loved the energy in practice. Our energy was outstanding.”
