UAB Football Fall Camp Coverage: Practice No. 2

BIRMINGHAM – Now less than a month away from opening the 2022 season, the UAB football team returned to the field on Tuesday morning for its second practice of fall camp at the Football Operations Center.

THREE TAKEAWAYS:

The outside linebacker position (Jacks) has been a major strength for UAB since returning to action in 2017 and has seen players drafted to the NFL in back-to-back seasons (Jordan Smith and Alex Wright). This season looks to be similar as the Jacks have been impressive so far through two days of camp. Kyle Harrell, Kelle Sanders, Nikia Eason Jr. and Michael Fairbanks lead this group and these four have looked sharp to start the season. All four players have extensive experience, and this position once again seems to be a strength for a unit that has finished top 20 nationally in total defense each of the last four years.
Sticking with defense, the secondary is also loaded with veterans. Now wearing a new number (No. 1), Jaylen Key has had a strong start to camp. Key has contributed in a limited role over the last two years, but seems poised to earn more playing time amongst the safeties which has a cast of All-Conference players in Will Boler, Grayson Cash, Keondre Swoopes, Damon Miller and Damien Miller.
The offense has a chance to be the most explosive unit UAB has ever had. Behind a veteran offensive line, DeWayne McBride and Jermaine Brown Jr. lead a backfield that has also seen spurts from A.J. Gates and Lee Witherspoon. Trea Shropshire continues to make plays as WR1, but Tejhaun Palmer has emerged as a legitimate threat, while T.J. Jones, Samario Rudolph and Fred Farrier II are also being targeted so far in camp.

The Blazers are just 30 days away from kicking off the 2022 season against Alabama A&M at Protective Stadium on Sept. 1. UAB just went on sale with single game tickets yesterday, while season tickets still remain starting as low as $90 in the Family Zone.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics

UAB Football Fall Camp Coverage: Practice No. 2

Players Mentioned

Will Boler

Jermaine Brown Jr.

Grayson Cash

Nikia Eason Jr.

Fred Farrier II

A.J. Gates

Kyle Harrell

T.J. Jones

Jaylen Key

DeWayne McBride

Damien Miller

Damon Miller

Tejhaun Palmer

Samario Rudolph

Kelle Sanders

Trea Shropshire

Keondre Swoopes

Lee Witherspoon

Alex Wright

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