This morning, Byron said practice had a "first day of school" feeling to it. Well, the evening session certainly had the same feel, with the sentiment affecting both players and media, who were looking at the roster often to figure out who was who.
Also, like Byron said, there were some veterans held out of the morning session who practiced in the evening. That's probably less of an indictment of the players that didn't practice in the morning and more of a way for coaches to balance things out some and have bodies to work with.
That said, one of the main purposes of a newcomers practice is just to teach players how to practice and how things will work on a day-to-day basis. So in the 45 or so minutes that media had to observe, there really weren't a ton of notes to be made just because the drills were so basic.
There were still 11-on-11 drills, though, and the first teams featured plenty of familiar faces:
First team offense: Brady White (QB), Jacom Brimhall (RB), Terrell Chatman (WR), Jalen Harvey (WR), Raymond Epps (TE), Zach Robertson (LT), Mason Walter (LG), Tyler McClure (C), Cade Cote (RG), and Steve Miller (RT).
First team defense: Renell Wren (DE), Corey Smith (N), JoJo Wicker (DT), Ismael Murphy-Richardson (Devil), Carlos Mendoza (WILL), Khaylan Thomas (SAM), Coltin Gerhart (SPUR), Kareem Orr (CB), No. 40 (CB), DeAndre Scott (S), and Dasmond Tautalatasi (S).
Second team offense: Bryce Perkins (QB), Nick Ralston (RB), Tim White (WR), Jordan Green (WR), Kody Kohl (TE), Tommy Hudson (TE), Steve Miller (LT), Cade Cote (LG), Tyler McClure (C), Mason Walter (RG), and Zach Robertson (RT).
Second team defense: Tramel Topps (End), George Lea (N), Jalen Bates (DT), Marshall Wallace (Devil), Luke Williams (WILL), Jason Franklin (SAM), Jamal Scott (SPUR), Kareem Orr (CB), No. 40 (CB), Jayme Otomewo (S), and DeAndre Scott (S).
I realize there are a few holes here and there and a few positions didn't see much rotation at all between the first and second teams, which is likely due to the lack of numbers on the field more than anything. The offensive line really just shuffled more than anything and the secondary mostly stayed the same.
That secondary included a No. 40, who played pretty well opposite Kareem Orr, but there isn't a No. 40 on the roster so I'm not sure who that is yet. New faces, new numbers, these things happen. I'll get the name when practice breaks. Whoever he is, he made a nice pass breakup on the sideline on a pass intended for Tim White.
The best showing of the first 45 minutes of practice probably came from George Lea, who recorded a sack and a tackle for a loss on back-to-back plays. There were questions whether or not he'd be at practice due to his off-the-field problems in the spring, but he was, albeit as a second-team player.
Other than that, veterans really showed out and stole the show as they showed the newcomers what it means to practice at Coach Graham's pace. The difference between A.J. Latu hitting a tackling sled vs. one of the many freshman was pretty obvious and it was very apparent which players have had a few years to work with the ASU training staff.
That said, a few of the freshman just looked like college football players ready to walk out and play on Saturdays. Hod noted on Twitter that Zach Robertson, JayJay Wilson, Bryce Perkins and JoJo Wicker all passed the eye test and I completely agree. I'd add Nick Ralston and Steve Miller to the list, but we already knew that from the spring.
There really weren't too many notes to take given the format of the practice and the amount of time we had to take them. I'll do my best to answer any questions.
Also, like Byron said, there were some veterans held out of the morning session who practiced in the evening. That's probably less of an indictment of the players that didn't practice in the morning and more of a way for coaches to balance things out some and have bodies to work with.
That said, one of the main purposes of a newcomers practice is just to teach players how to practice and how things will work on a day-to-day basis. So in the 45 or so minutes that media had to observe, there really weren't a ton of notes to be made just because the drills were so basic.
There were still 11-on-11 drills, though, and the first teams featured plenty of familiar faces:
First team offense: Brady White (QB), Jacom Brimhall (RB), Terrell Chatman (WR), Jalen Harvey (WR), Raymond Epps (TE), Zach Robertson (LT), Mason Walter (LG), Tyler McClure (C), Cade Cote (RG), and Steve Miller (RT).
First team defense: Renell Wren (DE), Corey Smith (N), JoJo Wicker (DT), Ismael Murphy-Richardson (Devil), Carlos Mendoza (WILL), Khaylan Thomas (SAM), Coltin Gerhart (SPUR), Kareem Orr (CB), No. 40 (CB), DeAndre Scott (S), and Dasmond Tautalatasi (S).
Second team offense: Bryce Perkins (QB), Nick Ralston (RB), Tim White (WR), Jordan Green (WR), Kody Kohl (TE), Tommy Hudson (TE), Steve Miller (LT), Cade Cote (LG), Tyler McClure (C), Mason Walter (RG), and Zach Robertson (RT).
Second team defense: Tramel Topps (End), George Lea (N), Jalen Bates (DT), Marshall Wallace (Devil), Luke Williams (WILL), Jason Franklin (SAM), Jamal Scott (SPUR), Kareem Orr (CB), No. 40 (CB), Jayme Otomewo (S), and DeAndre Scott (S).
I realize there are a few holes here and there and a few positions didn't see much rotation at all between the first and second teams, which is likely due to the lack of numbers on the field more than anything. The offensive line really just shuffled more than anything and the secondary mostly stayed the same.
That secondary included a No. 40, who played pretty well opposite Kareem Orr, but there isn't a No. 40 on the roster so I'm not sure who that is yet. New faces, new numbers, these things happen. I'll get the name when practice breaks. Whoever he is, he made a nice pass breakup on the sideline on a pass intended for Tim White.
The best showing of the first 45 minutes of practice probably came from George Lea, who recorded a sack and a tackle for a loss on back-to-back plays. There were questions whether or not he'd be at practice due to his off-the-field problems in the spring, but he was, albeit as a second-team player.
Other than that, veterans really showed out and stole the show as they showed the newcomers what it means to practice at Coach Graham's pace. The difference between A.J. Latu hitting a tackling sled vs. one of the many freshman was pretty obvious and it was very apparent which players have had a few years to work with the ASU training staff.
That said, a few of the freshman just looked like college football players ready to walk out and play on Saturdays. Hod noted on Twitter that Zach Robertson, JayJay Wilson, Bryce Perkins and JoJo Wicker all passed the eye test and I completely agree. I'd add Nick Ralston and Steve Miller to the list, but we already knew that from the spring.
There really weren't too many notes to take given the format of the practice and the amount of time we had to take them. I'll do my best to answer any questions.
