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Fall camp opened Wednesday morning outdoors under cloudy skies and very humid conditions. Players were in helmets and shoulder pads only.

One change from past years that I noticed is that the QBs were wearing gold practice jerseys instead of the usual red.

Andrew Allegretta reports after the post-practice press conference that:
1. True freshman cornerback Martel Hight has a noticeable confidence about him (had an INT today). Coach has enjoyed watching him field punts.
2. STAR Miles Capers (candidate for a starting position if healthy) had a good off-season coming back from injury (he missed all of last season with a pre-camp knee injury). But there’s “still a process” he’s going through.

Chad Bishop, who wrote all those player profile stories for VUCommodores.com, has moved on to another school, so I'm not sure if we will get the full post-practice pressers on Youtube like we used to or not.

#90, true freshman Ted Gregoire, definitely passes the eye test for an SEC defensive lineman.

OK, we got videos, and the video crew did a nice job with them...

Head coach Clark Lea...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XCo0bfMUeo

DL Nate Clifton...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqyO57_H_AY

OL Bradley Ashmore...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62sc-pZIORk

Unfortunately, after the last board update, YouTube embeds no longer work, so you'll have to click the links. (Don, any word on when that will be fixed?)

Tennessean: What we learned from Vanderbilt football's first preseason practice
(by Aria Gerson)

BrentVU wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 1:28 pm

Chad Bishop, who wrote all those player profile stories for VUCommodores.com, has moved on to another school, so I'm not sure if we will get the full post-practice pressers on Youtube like we used to or not.

Chad is actually now working for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the Georgia Tech beat.

"Now wearing No. 5, starting at quarterback, from White, Georgia, A.J. Swann..."



Graphics Dept. working overtime...
Clockwise from bottom left:
6 - WR Jayden McGowan
13 - Chase Gillespie
50 - OL Bradley Ashmore
2 - S De'Rickey Wright
7 - S Marlen Sewell (I think)
19 - LB Kane Patterson
5 - QB A.J. Swann
14 - WR Will Sheppard
15 - DL Nate Clifton

It's the tidbits of info that always interest me. For example, they've begun color-coding the support staff (trainers, nutritionists, etc.) because as CCL said, he and the other coaches need to know where they are when their specific expertise is needed. Now they can spot them instantly.

It goes by fast, but in this reel, the careful observer can see...

- QB Walter Taylor (2) doing a drill
- Aeneas DiCosmo (0) rushing QB Ken Seals (8)
- Quincy Skinner (3) with a catch and run
- A.J. Swann (5) tucking and running
- Darren Agu (11) doing a blocking/tackling drill
- B.J. Diakite (33) tackling the tire
- CB Trudell Berry (30)
- Swann with the rollout pass
- True freshman Junior Sherrill (85) catching a quick pass, breaking a tackle (that's exciting!)
- Swann completion to Richie Hoskins (15), covered by Jaylen Mahoney (23)
- Seals on target with a completion
- TE Chris Boyle (45, transfer from Brown) with a catch and run
- Will Sheppard (14) clutching the ball
- Seals barking signals
- Drew Dickey (7) handing off

The huge puffy helmets are crazy looking, but who knows if they might be game-day equipment in future years.

They should start practice at 6AM. The heat is crazy.