The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff wrapped up its second week of spring football practices Saturday morning, and head coach Alonzo Hampton said a lot of players are showing progress.
“We’re not where we want to be, but I like after practice six where we’re at,” Hampton said. “If you saw what we put in for these kids and what they’ve been able to retain, you know, we’re trying to snap the ball 25, 30 seconds. That’s what we’re trying to do. Like, we’re straining them to become the very best version of themselves, so a lot of guys are doing some good stuff.”
Saturday’s practice was the sixth of 15 and the second in full pads. UAPB put on full pads for the first time on April 2, its fourth practice.
One of the top priorities for the Golden Lions is learning a new offense under new offensive coordinator Tony Hull. Hampton has been working primarily with the offense alongside Hull.
Hampton said the system is simple, but they are asking the players to learn multiple positions and be interchangeable. Although he was hesitant at first to say any one player had stood out through two weeks, he eventually identified a wide receiver who had impressed him.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Daemon Dawkins has done a really good job learning multiple positions,” Hampton said. “We move him inside, outside, and move him in the backfield. So, I’ve been impressed with him. If you ask for an offensive guy, as I think about it, he would be the guy that has been helping his teammates, challenging his teammates to become better versions of themselves.”
While the offensive players are learning a new system, the defense they are facing in practice isn’t.
Defensive coordinator David Calloway is, like Hampton, entering his second season in Pine Bluff. He said UAPB isn’t changing its defensive strategies, though the Golden Lions must execute them better.
“Last year, we had a problem giving up explosive plays,” Calloway said. “Up until today, we did a pretty good job of that. That’s the biggest thing. I think our guys are way farther ahead than they were last spring when we got here — which should be expected, because (it’s) just another year in the scheme. We got not a whole bunch of guys, but a number of guys that’re returning that understand what we’re doing. So, it’s a lot more cohesion in what we’re doing.”
During a seven-on-seven period in the second half of Saturday’s practice, UAPB quarterbacks completed 12 of 14 passes with one touchdown. The defense forced one interception and one incompletion.
This was followed by an extended full-team session with 19 plays, each being run from just shy of midfield. The quarterbacks completed 10 of 12 passes with one interception and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard pass to Dawkins from quarterback Mekhi Hagens.
The offense scored three touchdowns during a red zone session during which a defensive lineman knocked down a pass. There was one interception.
Although the returning defenders are entering year two of Calloway and Hampton’s defense, there are several newcomers learning it for the first time. Calloway said they are picking it up well.
“For the most part, the guys that we brought in at safety, they do a real good job at communicating,” Calloway said. “We really stressed in recruiting to get guys that have a real good football IQ. So, it hasn’t been a big gap for those guys learning this scheme coming from another situation, so [we’re] excited about what they bring to the table just from an accountability standpoint.”
UAPB has nine spring practices remaining over the next three weeks. The team will scrimmage the next two Saturdays, then end the spring with the Black and Gold Game at 2 p.m. April 27.
UAPB quarterbacks DJ Stevenson (14) and Freddie Davis (16) throw passes during a Saturday football practice. (Pine Bluff Commercial/Tanner Spearman)