April 1, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football team went through the 10th practice of the spring with an hour and a half workout in full pads Friday afternoon at Seibert Stadium.

One of the spots the coaching staff is looking to fill this spring is running back. Chris Evans, who left school as Samford's and the state of Alabama's all-time leading rusher, will have to be replaced this season.

Samford head coach Pat Sullivan said he has liked to work he has seen from several of the running backs on this year's team.

"Obviously Chris Evans was a great player and we'll miss him, but Fabian Truss has done a good job this spring," Sullivan said. "Jonathan Sillers has done a good job and Noah Wilson has come in and helped us some. We may not be as one dimensional in that, instead of just using Chris, we may have several of them play.

"David Strider has done a good job at fullback," Sullivan said. "Mason Wald is not going through spring practice and we miss him. Then, we have a couple of kids coming in the fall who are going to have to come in and help us."

Sullivan said he continues to be impressed with the way his team has worked so far this spring.

"I've been very pleased with the spring so far," Sullivan said. "There's been an awful lot of enthusiasm. We're not there by any stretch of the imagination, but our guys have worked with a purpose and our staff has done a good job."

Sullivan said it was important for the Bulldogs to continue to improve throughout the rest of spring practice.

"We're only two-thirds of the way through," Sullivan said. "One of the things that we talked about that we need to do is finish. So, we need to finish spring practice on a good note."

Samford will take the weekend off from practice. The Bulldogs will return to practice Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.