ETSU sees good, bad in first spring football scrimmage

JOHNSON CITY — Mike Jenkins was up early on Saturday morning. It was football time at East Tennessee State. ETSU held its first scrimmage of spring ball at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium, and the rising senior defensive back was ready to go. "We haven't played real football since last fall. I think everybody is out here just ready to go," Jenkins said. "I know I was ready to go, I was up at 6 o'clock in the morning stretching and getting warm, I was like we have got a game today I feel like." ETSU second-year head coach Will Healy oversaw a 58-play scrimmage that had a mixture of good and bad, which is to be expected in just the eighth practice of the spring. "I think the difficult part about spring ball and fall camp is you are always excited about one side and you are frustrated about another," Healy said. "I don't know if you ever win a scrimmage unless everybody stays healthy. I thought there was good give and take." The big topic heading into next season, which begins on Aug. 29 against Campbell, is the quarterback position. Four players are expected to challenge for the starting slot, including Jake McNamara, the brother of former ETSU signal-caller Cade McNamara. "First scrimmage of the year basically so I would say we are in a good spot right now," McNamara said. "Obviously after the first scrimmage you have a lot of build on and to learn from, but just getting to know who is going to come and hit on a Saturday is a big thing. "Also just getting that chemistry because we are all mixing around groups. I would say the big thing is just having the sideline come around us and getting that energy in and just moving the ball." Jackson Byrd, who showed flashes last season, returns, while transfers Michael Mims (Louisville) and Jadyn Davis (Michigan) are also in the mix. Weston Edmondson also got reps on Saturday under the watchful eye of offensive coordinator Brian Blackmon and quarterbacks coach Neal Posey. "First of all, it is just a blessing, a blessing to be back here, being around Coach Healy and Coach Blackmon," said McNamara, who previously attended Texas-El Paso and New Mexico State. "Obviously being in competition is a blessing in disguise as well, having the opportunity to go out every day and compete for a starting job is just an unbelievable opportunity all four of us have. "Every day coming in and just stacking days, just building on what you have from the last practice, we were mixing in groups. We are building chemistry with the receivers. As far as right now, I don't think it is tough, I think all of us have embraced it as a room and we are growing each and every day as practice goes on." There was a definite feeling of excitement, especially from the defensive unit, which was trying to do its part to make a quarterback decision tough on the coaching staff. "I am on defense so I have to brag about the defensive guys. I feel like we brought out that enthusiasm and we were just out there flying around and having fun," Jenkins said. "I got to give a little props to the offense too, they do their job, they were out there executing and they scored, good little plays, they got us a little bit." ETSU, which finished 7-5 last season, will host its spring game on April 25, with the Bucs looking to build on their first scrimmage of the spring. Healy mentioned the potential of running back TJ Payton, receiver Tyler Griffith, and was pleased with the progress of the defensive line, which is now under the direction of former Virginia Tech assistant J.C. Price. "You get into spring ball and everybody kind of starts to wear out in practice 10, 11 and 12," said Healy, who is focused on improving the emotional maturity of the team. "You just try to get to the spring game and just try to finish spring ball, the real question is what is our sense of urgency when we come out on Tuesday to get the things fixed that happened today." "A lot of stuff showed up, good and bad so what is our focus, what is our attention to detail, what is our sense of urgency. Everything I have asked this group to do they have done a tremendous job so far so I wouldn't expect anything different."