JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — The No. 9-ranked Carson-Newman football team opened Wednesday morning with their first full-pad scrimmage of camp with a lesson in Eagle Football 101, it's time to attack.
"That's the beginning for them," C-N head coach Ken Sparks said. "We want to be the attackers. In everything we do offensively, defensively and the kicking game, we want to do it with the attacking mentality."
Hitting began at 9:15 a.m. after three days of meetings and helmets/jerseys/shorts lighter practices. First team All-South Atlantic Conference junior defensive end Zeke Andrews (Eastman, Ga.) was ready to finally get physical on the practice field.
"I love contact," Andrews said. "I want contact whenever I can get it."
Andrews is one of just three returning starters on defense. Sophomore defensive tackle Qua Jackson (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and senior safety Mario Russell (Columbus, Ohio) are the only returning defenders from the Eagles' 2009 NCAA Division II semifinal team.
Andrews has taken on a leadership role with the younger defensive lineman. He's also put in the work in the offseason to improve his strength and speed to build on his 10 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks last season.
"I've been in the weight room doing a lot of squats and leg presses," Andrews said. "I've been working to get my speed up. We have a lot of freshman that have to get used to it. I'm a junior and I'm still getting used to it."
New defensive coordinator Mike Clowney has already made an impression with the junior defensive end. Clowney coached the linebackers last season as was a star linebacker at Carson-Newman from 1996-1999. Clowney still has the single game tackles record with 23 against Wingate in 1996.
"He (Clowney) always brings energy," Andrews said. "He's actually done it. I know what he's been through and he knows what I've been through. Whatever he says, I believe it because I know he did it."
In practice, Andrews is lining up against fellow All-SAC selection, offensive tackle Michael Tribue (Antioch, Tenn.). Last season Tribue called departed senior guard Shane Canterbury the "General" of the offensive line. With Canterbury gone, Tribue has been promoted. After practice Wednesday morning, Tribue gathered the younger offensive line around him to have a players meeting before heading to the locker room.
"We take them under our wing and try to teach them everything that they need to know to be successful out here," Tribue said. "We can't be complacent. We have to keep pushing and take it one person and one play at a time."
The defense shined in the later passing drills, getting after the ball and making work hard on C-N's freshman group of quarterbacks. Still, Sparks thought freshmen Philip Juhlin (Maryville, Tenn.), Tyre Brown (Adairsville, Ga.) and Johnny Foster (Roebuck, S.C.) had strong practices. Senior Doug Belk (Valdosta, Ga.) and junior Aaron Large (Corryton, Tenn.) were both on target with their passes as the battle to become the new Eagles quarterback continues.
"It (practice) was sloppy and exciting," Sparks said. "We had some enthusiasm and had people flying around, but it was nowhere near where it needed to be."
