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Football
Mike Williams
normal, pain- All season long, the Illinois State football team’s focus has been on getting stronger and faster in the fall to keep up with the grueling Missouri Valley Football Conference gauntlet. The Redbirds have been working hard and are in the second quarter of that season, back to work and starting spring training in preparation for the 2023 season.
Tuesday’s workout was the first of fifteen over the next six weeks for the Redbirds. The Redbirds endured cold and windy conditions in the morning but were happy to be back on the field as a full team for the first time since November.
As one of the team’s first warm-up practices, the players took to the field wearing hats and no pads to go through two hours of game scripts and scenarios. After a quick stretch and some encouraging words from the 15th year head coach Brook Spak, the ‘Birds took the field to work on their special teams to start the game. Then the action moved to individual positioning drills, followed by blitz time, perimeter drill, 7-on-7 and finally a team drill.
Quarterback Zack Annexstad He directed the Redbird offense, serving two years in a Redbird uniform as offensive coordinator. Tony Petersondestruction. He, along with the transfer quarterback Mason Kaplan. And second Tommy Rittenhouse Passing players in turn in various exercises, including returners Daniel Sobkowicz, Jalen Carr and David Connors and newcomers I’m Sean Stewart And Cam Grandi.
The new-look running back team also took turns taking the football as a junior Cole Mueller He returned from a season-ending injury suffered in last year’s season opener at Wisconsin. Returns Winkers Wright And Sean Allen Both have seen action, as newcomers Mason Blakemore Both are out of the backfield with tackles and tackles.
Veteran linebackers on the defensive side Kenton Wilhoit And Cade Campos He controlled the action in the middle and the old man Josh Ding He caught things on the defensive line. Security Keondre Jackson And Dillon Gearhart They return to help bolster a defensive backfield that was one of the best in the country last year under the leadership of the defensive coordinator. Travis Niekamp.
With the first practice in the books, the Redbirds will have one more on Thursday morning before getting a week off for the university’s spring break. Rehearsals resume on Tuesday, March 21st and continue on a regular schedule until the spring show.
For updates, photos and videos from the 2023 Redbird Football Spring Camp, follow the team’s official Twitter (@RedbirdFB) and Instagram (isuredbirdfb) accounts and log on to GoRedbirds.com.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and other resources for you.
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