
In spring-like conditions at Kidd Brewer Stadium, Appalachian State University football opened its spring practice season on Sunday.
Sunny skies greeted Appalachian State for the first of 15 spring practices allowed by the NCAA. Sunday’s opening session lasted two hours with the Mountaineers donning helmets but no pads.
One of the highlights of Sunday’s spring opener was the return of defensive back Brandon Pinckney and quarterback Jake Easter to the practice field after both missed the entire 2015 season due to knee injuries sustained during fall camp last August. Pinckney, in particular, made his presence felt right away when he intercepted a tipped pass during 7-on-7 drills early in the workout.
Although Pinckney and Easter returned to action, six Mountaineers — wide receiver Jaquil Capel, offensive lineman Jamie Collmar, defensive back Latrell Gibbs, wide receiver Shaedon Meadors, offensive lineman Beau Nunn and defensive lineman Antonious Sims — sat out while continuing to recover from injuries suffered last season. Capel, Nunn and Sims might be able to return to action at some point this spring but Collmar, Gibbs and Meadors will miss all 15 practices. All six are expected to be at 100 percent when fall camp opens in August.
With Sunday’s opener in the books, Appalachian State is scheduled to practice on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays through March 2. Weather permitting, all spring practices will be held at Kidd Brewer Stadium and open to the public. Practiced moved in to the Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility will be closed to public.
Football Opens Spring Practice on Sunday
BOONE, N.C. — Just 50 days after capping a historic 2015 campaign with a 31-29 victory over Ohio in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, Appalachian State University football officially begins preparations for 2016 on Sunday when it opens its spring practice season.
Appalachian State will hold 15 spring practices as allowed by the NCAA, although all 15 will technically be conducted in the winter. After Sunday’s “spring” opener, the Mountaineers will practice every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until March 2.
The early spring practice schedule allows the Mountaineers five full months to focus solely on academics and strength and conditioning following the conclusion of spring ball until the beginning fall camp in early August. App State followed a similar schedule last offseason and responded by going 11-2 and becoming the first team to ever win 11 games and the first team to ever win a bowl contest in its first full-fledged season as a member of NCAA Division I FBS.
Weather permitting, Appalachian State will conduct all of its spring practices at Kidd Brewer Stadium and every session will be open to the public. Practice will be closed when weather forces the Mountaineers to work out in the Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility. Location will be posted prior to each scheduled practice on Twitter at @appstatesports and @AppState_FB.
With 15 offensive and defensive starters returning from last year’s 11-2 squad (six on offense, nine on defense) there are very few starting positions up for grabs this offseason. The only holes that need to be filled in the starting lineup are at wide receiver (Bobo Beathard, Malachi Jones and Simms McElfresh), left tackle (Davante Harris) and center (Jesse Chapman) on offense and defensive end (Ronald Blair) and strong safety (Doug Middleton) on defense. Therefore, much of the focus of the spring will be on cultivating depth across the board and the continued development of less-experienced student-athletes that are being counted on to contribute in 2016 and beyond.
2016 APPALACHIAN STATE SPRING FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sunday, Feb. 7 – 1 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 8 – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 10 – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 12 – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13 – 11 a.m.
Monday, Feb. 15 – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 17 – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 19 – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20 – 11 a.m.
Monday, Feb. 22 – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 24 – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 26 – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27 – 11 a.m.
Monday, Feb. 29 – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 2 – 5:30 p.m.
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