BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford football team turned in two productive practices Monday at Seibert Stadium. The team practiced for about two hours in full pads in the morning, and then again for about an hour and a half in shells in the afternoon.
The practices were the 18
th and 19
th workouts of fall camp. The team will take Tuesday off before going through the final two-a-day session of camp on Wednesday.
Samford head coach
Pat Sullivan said he continues to like the way his team is working during fall camp.
“We had two really good practices today,” Sullivan said. “We will give them a day off tomorrow. We'll have meetings in the morning and then we'll take them bowling in the afternoon.”
The wide receivers are expected to be one of the strengths of the 2012 squad. The Bulldogs return their top eight receivers, and 93.8 percent of their receiving yards from the 2011 season. Sullivan said he expects big things from the group this season.
“Obviously, that is going to be one of the strengths of our football team,” Sullivan said. “You have Riley (Hawkins) and Kelsey (Pope).
Kelvin Clay and
Zeke Walters are both really having a good fall camp. We have some depth there, and some of the young guys have come in and are helping us too, so that's really a plus for us.”
Senior wide receiver
Riley Hawkins is one of the leaders of the group. Hawkins said he is looking forward to starting the 2012 season.
“I think the receivers are coming along pretty well,” Hawkins said. “This is probably the best receiving corps I've been around since I've been here at Samford. We have a lot of depth and I think everybody's ready to go, so I'm just excited about this season.”
The team's final two-a-day workouts on Wednesday will be held at 9:10 a.m. and again at 4:20 p.m. The team will take Tuesday off from practice.
The Bulldogs will kick off the 2012 season at home against SoCon-rival Furman on Sept. 1. The game, which is set for a 3:30 p.m. start, will be the first Samford game broadcast on the Bulldogs' new radio home, 97.3 The Zone.
