NORMAL, Ill. – While many around the Bloomington-Normal community were out celebrating St. Patrick's Day on Sunday, the Illinois State football team was making its own luck under the lights at Hancock Stadium in the first practice of the spring for the Redbirds.
Practice Highlights:
• The cool temperatures Sunday evening didn't seem to bother an enthusiastic group of Redbird players, many of whom came out in shorts and short sleeves to work through the initial chilly practice
• Action began with a special teams circuit, as different groups headed to separate parts of the turf to work on specific drills suited to their skills and responsibilities as part of the Redbirds' special teams units
• As the first 7-on-7 session began, quarterbacks Brady Davis and Bryce Jefferson alternated possessions and each was sharp in their first action of the spring … Davis was a perfect 8-for-8, connecting with favorite target Andrew Edgar four times including a 70-yard touchdown … Jefferson was equally accurate, completing 6-of-8 pass attempts including a trio to transfer wideout Cole Blackman
• The defense then got to pin its ears back and get after the quarterback in the blitz drill, which saw a pass breakup by Julian Haynie and one at the line of scrimmage by John Ridgeway
• An interception by Devin Taylor in the perimeter drill kept the momentum on the defense's side, before the offense got another crack in the second 7-on-7 period
• Davis was 5-for-8 in the second period, including a 70-yard TD to Taylor Grimes and Jefferson capped off the drill with a touchdown strike to Tristan Bailey … Iverson Brown recorded a pair of breakups in the drill as well, while Luther Kirk, Clayton Isbell and Taylor each added one apiece
• Following a spirited no-contact team period, the practice ended with Sam Fenlason, Nate Bond and JT Bohlken taking turns kicking field goals on the north end
Thoughts From Coach Spack:
"Tonight was a great start.