Five Takeaways from UAB Football Spring Practice

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – As the UAB football team now turns its attention to summer training after a successful spring season, here are five takeaways from the Blazers' 15 practices.

DEPTH/COMPETITION AT RUNNING BACK:

Spencer Brown erupted onto the scene, which resulted in him earning FWAA Freshman All-American honors. He enters his sophomore year stronger, faster and with more experience.
The backfield was bolstered this offseason with the additions of Michigan transfer Kingston Davis and Ole Miss transfer Jarrion Street.
With Brown and Street limited throughout the spring, Davis received the bulk of the carries and was very impressive. At 6'0'' – 245 lbs, Davis ran with a punishing style and broke multiple tackles after initial contact. With his emergence, along with Brown and Street, the running back position looks to be a major strength in 2018.

OFFENSIVE LINE IN GREAT SHAPE:

One of the biggest question marks going into 2017 was the offensive line, but they proved to be a major asset and enter 2018 with four starters back plus their top reserve in Rishard Cook, who started four games a year ago.
Cook moved into the left guard position which was left vacant by Chris Schleuger and rounds out a unit that features four seniors and one junior.
Cook, who lost 40 lbs and looks quicker and stronger, is joined on the left side by returning All-Conference performer James Davis at left tackle. Center Lee Dufour is the only non-senior and he started every game last year, while the right side of the line features guard Malique Johnson and tackle Justice Powers. Those two combined to make 23 starts last year (Powers 13, Johnson 10). The aforementioned running backs should benefit from this unit heading into 2018.

STRENGTH AT QUARTERBACK:

All-Conference quarterback A.J Erdely is the incumbent starter and had a strong spring practice learning a new offense under Offensive Coordinator Bryant Vincent, who was the OC in 2014. Big things are expected from Erdely as a senior.
As has been the case now for the last two years, Tyler Johnston III has been pushing Erdely and showed what he can do at the Spring Game. Johnston III led Green to a 14-13 victory with 130 yards passing and 75 yards rushing, proving he is a dual threat like Erdely. The QB position will be one to watch heading into 2018.

QUINDARIUS THAGARD IMPRESSES ON D-LINE:

Names like Garrett Marino, Teko Powell and Anthony Rush got most of the headlines last season, but the coaching staff was very impressed with the offseason and spring ball for nose tackle Quindarius Thagard.
Thagard started the first four games in 2017 before minor injuries slowed down the second half of his season, but he is now 100 percent and is performing at a high level.
With Marino and Rush back in 2018, the defensive line should be a major strength

NEW FACES AT JACK LINEBACKER:

With Shaq Jones gone at Jack linebacker, it leaves a void that is currently up for grabs with a very talented group in contention for it.
Traditional linebackers Craig Kanyangarara, Tre' Crawford and Keilan Knight are joined by newcomers to linebacker Stacy Keely and Kylen Binn.
Keely has the most playing experience from a year ago as he was the team leader in sacks from the defensive end position and made the switch to Jack look natural during spring practice. Binn was the team's backup quarterback last year and at 6-foot-7, is an intimidating body on the defensive side of the ball. That is a position that will have all five of those players contend for playing time.

The Blazers are 135 days away from the start of the 2018 season, which opens on Thursday night, August 30, at home against Savannah State. Season tickets are on sale by clicking here or calling 205-975-UAB1.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics

Five Takeaways from UAB Football Spring Practice

Related News

Players Mentioned

Kylen Binn

Spencer Brown

Rishard Cook

Tre' Crawford

James Davis

Kingston Davis

Lee Dufour

Malique Johnson

Tyler Johnston III

Shaq Jones

Craig Kanyangarara

Stacy Keely

Keilan Knight

Garrett Marino

Teko Powell

Justice Powers

Anthony Rush

Chris Schleuger

Jarrion Street

Quindarius Thagard

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