Fans to get early look at Bucs on Saturday

East Tennessee State football coach Will Healy is excited about Saturday's spring game scheduled for noon at Greene Stadium. The event is free and open to the public to give fans an early look at the 2026 team. It also wraps up spring practice. Coming off a 7-5 record his first year as ETSU coach, Healy is pleased with how far the Bucs have come over the last few weeks. "I'm very excited about the progress. I'm sure all coaches say that, but it's not just from a football perspective," Healy said. "I see a group who is intentional about their relationships with one another, how they're practicing and preparing. It's a challenge to integrate half a new staff and half a new team, but it's been a fun challenge." ETSU football isn't unique in that aspect. A huge rebuild every season is the norm in modern day college athletics, whether you're talking about other programs on campus or football rivals. Healy said the key is to pick the right character people who want to be committed to a team. This offseason has been as much about team building as being prepared on the field. "One thing I learned last year was I didn't think we were tight enough, quick enough," he said. "It took us some of the losses during the season to really rally around one another. That's been an emphasis in the offseason and an emphasis in the summer. How many things can they do off the field? We encourage them to spend time with the coaches to build those true relationships." Healy has a program where players hang out with others they might not otherwise. For example, an offensive lineman and defensive back might spend time together, or maybe it's a kicker and a linebacker. He believes the team-building process is more important than it's ever been. It appears the battle for starting quarterback will go into the fall. The Bucs tried a two-quarterback system early last season with transfers Cade McNamara and Jacolby Criswell, but injuries threw a wrinkle into their plans. Healy would like to settle on one quarterback with Power 4 transfers Jadyn Davis from Michigan and Mason Mims from Louisville, along with returning quarterback Jake McNamara all taking snaps with the first team in practices. "We have good options and we have to decide who rises to the top," Healy said. "The goal is to have one (quarterback). If we have one, we will play one, but if we have different guys who present defenses different challenges, maybe that's the best way to win games." That's where sophomore Jackson Byrd could fit in. He brings a dynamic as a dual-threat that makes him appealing in certain situations. Healy commented that he's keeping himself in the mix. He had a good practice on Thursday, but it's the consistency of making accurate throws that he needs to keep working on. One player expected to a bigger part of the plans is bruising running back Jason Albritton. He was the Bucs' second-leading rusher last season with 527 yards and eight touchdowns on 104 carries. It included a breakout game against rival Western Carolina when he rushed for 125 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Healy sees improvement on the front, although he pointed out the offensive line is short-handed with some injuries at the moment. "The hard part about spring practice is excited about one side and disappointed with the other side every single rep," Healy said. "I know we have some offensive linemen who are out that should make us better in the fall. But, our defensive line is better and deeper so I think we should be able to get more pressure on the quarterback, and be better at stopping the run." A local player who has begun to break through is defensive lineman Mason Ball from Elizabethton. He appeared in all 12 games last season, but saw limited action. Healy believes the athletic 6-foot-4 Ball is just starting to realize his potential. Healy credits defensive line coach J.C. Price, who came to the Bucs from Virginia Tech, for bringing Ball along. "J.C. Price has been unbelievable for him," Healy said. "He pushes Mason and sees his potential. Mason has responded well. When it's really important for Mason, he will be as good as anyone in our league and the country. It's the matter of him working at it to become a great one."