Eagles open spring practice under drizzly skies at Mossy Creek

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. Carson-Newman football is 76 removed from its last game – a quarterfinal loss to eventual Division II national champion Valdosta State.  Friday afternoon, the Eagles began their quest for a sixth national championship for head coach Ken Sparks, who enters his 34^th season at the helm of the C-N football program.

The Eagles return eight starters on offense and eight on defense from last year's 9-3 club that finished the season ranked no. 13. 

"This is Eagle sunshine," Sparks said as a mist began to surround Burke-Tarr stadium on a soggy afternoon. "For us to be able to adjust mentally and have to deal with the elements is good for us.  I like the way the kids are flying around, it's exciting to watch.  We're making progress."

C-N must replace SAC co-offensive player of the year Brandon Haywood at quarterback and all-SAC first team defensive tackle Deshon Collins.  Haywood led C-N in touchdowns with 22 (15 on the ground and seven through the air), while Collins made seven tackles for loss – second on the team. 

Sparks said those departures, as well as a linebacking corps that was riddled with injuries last season, will make for some of the more compelling theater as to whom fills those role.

"We need to see how our new people develop at defensive tackle and then how we come along at linebacker," Sparks said. "We've got a couple people in the secondary that I hope will be great additions.  Quarterback will be interesting to see if guys can handle the heat and get it done."

Sparks indicated that the nature of spring practice gives the Eagles a chance to work on their relationships with Christ more deliberately than they may be able to during the chaotic rush of the fall season

"This is a time to develop maturity," Sparks said. "To work day-to-day when there's not that immediate goal like there is in the fall. Right now will tell you a lot about how mature a kid is."

Carson-Newman not only will break in new players this spring practice period, but also a few new coaches.  Former Vol Nick Reveiz joins the staff as a graduate assistant working with linebackers, while three-time FCS All-American and Furman alum Kadarron Anderson replaces De'Rail Sims as C-N's running back coach after Sims left for a similar position at Western Carolina. 

Check cneagles.com next week for stories on Anderson, C-N's 2013 schedule and an update on the 2013 Carson-Newman Coaching Clinic featuring Tony Dungy and Chan Gailey.