The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Team Holds First Spring Practice
3/18/2009 12:00:00β―AM | Football
March 18, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB football team opened 2009 spring drills here Wednesday with the Blazers working out for just over two hours.
"I thought it was a good first practice," said head coach Neil Callaway, set to begin his third season at the helm of the UAB program. "I saw a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of effort. I think we had plenty of carry-over from last year. Our guys moved around a lot quicker than when we started last year."
There is a level of optimism around the Blazers heading into next season that they haven't felt the past couple years.
Callaway expects his team's scholarship numbers to be in the "82 range" after two straight years of the numbers being just under 70. Callaway and his staff were forced to play an abundance of young and experienced players the last two years.
"The good thing is, that the last two years, we have played a lot of freshmen and many of them have started," said Callaway. "Now, those guys are juniors and sophomores with some experience. I think that should help us this season."
The Blazers will return more than 50 letterwinners from last year's team that won two of its final three games, including a season-ending 15-0 shutout at UCF. All 11 starters are back on offense and seven starters return on the defensive side.
Despite all the players returning for the 2009 season, the Blazers remain thin as spring drills begin, in part due to a large number of players who are still in the rehab stage of injuries they sustained.
There are a few instances where Callaway and his coaches have had to temporarily move players to another position this spring. "We're practicing two-deep, but some of them are practicing at positions they're not going to play," said Callaway. "That's what we've got to do right now."
The Blazers have several newcomers on the field for the first time after signing seven prospects in December. They all enrolled in January and other than a couple of them who are among the group coming back from injuries, they practiced Wednesday.
"I thought Nick Adams looked good at a receiver," said Callaway. "Derek Slaughter at defensive end, you can tell he's really athletic."
Of the returning players, Callaway mentioned defensive backs Terrell Springs, Ferson Stafford and Chase Daniel, along with senior wide receiver Mark Ferrell, as catching his eye on the first day.
The Blazers will be back on the field Friday for their second practice. They will practice in pads for the first time Saturday.
UAB is scheduled to conclude its spring drills on Saturday, April 11 with the spring game at Legion Field.
