GRAMBLING---Grambling State Head Coach Doug Williams liked what he saw Friday as his Tigers hit the practice field in preparation for next weekend's season opener against Alcorn State.
"I thought we had a good session today," Williams said. "Their play got much better than it was on Thursday. We did a lot of special teams work, and they're looking good. Special teams are an important part of the game, so it's good to feel good about that part of it."
Grambling's pro style offensive set features numerous formations, and Williams said he's pleased with the progress made by his receivers so far through preseason workouts.
"Considering where we were in the spring, we've come a long, long way with our receiving corps," Williams said. "In the spring they weren't running good routes because they had been playing in a read option offense that was more about run game. But they've picked up the pace and have really gotten better."
The Tigers lost last year's top receiver,
Kiare Thompson, who led the Tigers with 34 catches for 761 yards and three touchdowns.
But the Tigers do return a group of receivers who contibuted last year to that run-oriented offense. Senior
Mario Louis was third in team receptions withn 16 for 284 yards and a score, junior
Bakari Maxwell added nine receptions for 196 yards and senior
Van Phillips hauled in three passes for 18 yards.
"
Mario Louis,
Van Phillips, Maxwell,
Charles Bailey and
Dezmond Spivey have had good camps and have made me feel better about the position," Williams said. "It looks like we have some depth, but that's something you can never have enough of and we're going to need it because we'll run all kinds of formations - from three or four receivers and no tight end to two tight end sets. We'll mix it up with all kinds of formations."
Williams also said freshman tight end Johnny Hedgemond (6-4, 240) from Delhi has also impressed during camp.
"He has good size and can block and catch," Williams said. "He's been a pleasant surprise."
GSU will hit the practice field again Saturday morning and will open the 2011 season against Alcorn State at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 in the Port City Classic at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.
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