Spring practice begins
By Steve Behr
There have been a few changes with the Appalachian State football program over the last few months.
Quarterbacks coach Scott Satterfield left for Toledo and has been replaced by slot receivers coach Brad Glenn. Wide receivers coach Antonio Carter left for another position and was replaced by Lance Taylor, hired away from Alabama.
Defensive assistant Brad West left for Tulsa and was replaced by Jason Blaylock, who will assist on the defensive line.
And usually spring practice is when players start being moved to new positions. The Mountaineers begin spring workouts Tuesday looking to regroup after falling in the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs last year.
Appalachian State has 30 days to practice 15 times. The Moun-taineers will practice in shorts and helmet for three days, and then add shoulder pads for the next four before they can go full pads.
The main goal of spring workouts, according to head coach Jerry Moore, is to make sure the right players are in the right positions when fall workouts begin.
“One of the main things in spring practices is to get the right guys in the right spots,” Moore said. “It’s a different deal now. We have three days in shorts, four days in what we call ‘thud’ and then we can go live in full pads, so really we have eight days in full gear. I think it’s imperative to get guys in the right spots.”
One guy who is already in the right position is quarterback Armanti Edwards, who has recovered well from offseason knee surgery and has been running with the team.
Edwards is not likely to participate in many contact drills, but will work on timing drills.
“He had a good workout (Monday) morning,” Moore said. “He’s not in that good of shape, but he’s OK.”
It gives the other quarterbacks in camp a chance to get the bulk of the reps. Backup DeAndre Presley, a rising sophomore next year, will be participating in his first spring workout after starting one game last year as a freshman. Also working into the quarterback rotation are redshirt freshmen Jey Yokeley and Jamie DeGeare.
Moore said they may not necessarily stay at quarterback.
“They are kids who can play quarterback and maybe they can play some other place,” Moore said. “The main thing is to get them in the right spots.”
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