The lights at Simmons Bank Field turned on Tuesday night for the first time this year as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff kicked off the preseason with its first football practice of fall camp.
UAPB is starting with just over 100 players after having 61 play in the spring game in late April, thanks to the addition of the high school recruits and several late transfers.
The freshman class mostly comes from Arkansas, while the transfers hail from across the country. This was a much more complete recruiting class for second-year head coach Alonzo Hampton than last year’s since he had a full season to recruit.
On National Signing Day in February, Hampton said he would give the freshmen workout plans and study material, so they could prepare on their own since they wouldn’t be part of spring practice. He said Tuesday night he could tell many of them came to campus prepared.
“You can tell some guys really have been studying the things that we asked them to study, but then, obviously man, you’re a freshman,” Hampton said. “At the end of the day, your eyes gonna be big. You come out here, they kind of get in the back of the pack, but you can see a lot of good things. We just gotta continue to build day by day.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Tuesday’s practice was the first of 25 before UAPB plays its first game of the 2024 season. The Golden Lions wore helmets with T-shirts and shorts and will add shells on Thursday. The first practice in full pads is scheduled for Saturday.
No team is ever game-ready after one practice, especially with so many newcomers. Hampton said the top priority early in fall camp is to show effort.
“The main thing today is trying to get guys to run on and off the field,” Hampton said. “We want to be a tempo offense. We want to be able to snap the ball about 20, 25 seconds. In order to do that, then we gotta know the signals from the sideline. The quarterback gotta be able to command it. He gotta be able to see the defense and get everybody in position so we can play.”
UAPB will face a stiff test when it opens the season on Aug. 29 against Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. A Southeastern Conference foe is always challenging for a Football Championship Subdivision program such as UAPB, but Hampton said there’s no pressure on the Golden Lions.
He said the coaches spent time in the offseason watching film and planning for the Razorbacks, but for now, he wants his players to focus on themselves.
“We’re worried about the Golden Lions,” Hampton said. “For the first two-and-a-half, three weeks, it’s all Golden Lions. We ain’t worried about Arkansas, but we do have a plan for Arkansas. About 12, 13 days before the first game, then we’ll start breaking up in some scouts, sending guys around, getting some Arkansas looks. But at the end of the day, it ain’t no pressure on us. I want our guys to come out there and play their best football.”
Only Hampton was made available for comment Tuesday night, but he said offensive coordinator Tony Hull and defensive coordinator David Calloway will be available starting next week.