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ASU Football Spring Practice Report: March 4

Senior wide receiver Malachi Jones (right) was one of Appalachian State's top performers during his final set of spring practices in 2015. Photo by Dave Mayo / App State Sports
Senior wide receiver Malachi Jones (right) was one of Appalachian State’s top performers during his final set of spring practices in 2015. Photo by Dave Mayo / App State Sports

Appalachian State University football held its 15th and final spring practice in 2015 on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Appalachian State’s last official practice until fall camp begins in August lasted two hours under sunny skies with temperatures in the 70’s. The Mountaineers donned helmets, shoulder pads and shorts for the workout.

Following practice, App State head coach Scott Satterfield praised his troops for their overall performance this spring, remarking that it might have been the best set of spring practices he has been a part of as a coach or player. He noted that championship teams know how to practice and that the Mountaineers, who ride the nation’s fifth-longest winning streak with six-straight victories, practiced like a championship squad throughout the spring.

Speaking to reporters following Wednesday’s spring finale, Satterfield singled out quarterback Taylor Lamb (Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun) and cornerback Latrell Gibbs(Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb) as two of the team’s top performers during spring drills.

Offensively, he also noted the play of redshirt freshmen Jalin Moore (Shelby, N.C./Crest) and Josh Boyd (Norcross, Ga./Norcross), who spent much of the spring carrying the load at running back while Marcus Cox (Dacula, Ga./Dacula), Terrence Upshaw (Duluth, Ga./Northview) and Ricky Fergerson (Fuquay-Varina, N.C./Fuquay-Varina) sat out at various times due to minor injuries and the coaching staff’s desire to let the veterans rest while giving the majority of carries to youngsters. Satterfield also praised senior wideoutMalachi Jones (Roswell, Ga./Central Gwinnett) as perhaps the team’s most consistent performer during the 15 spring practices.

Defensively, Satterfield said that he was very pleased with the play of safeties Doug Middleton (Winston-Salem, N.C./Parkland), A.J. Howard (Hamilton, Ga./Harris County) and Alex Gray (Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge). The head coach said that the trio performed at a high level throughout the spring and that the staff is very comfortable with having any of the three on the field at any given time.

The early start and end to spring practice will allow Appalachian State to have four full months in Coach Mike Sirignano’s strength-and-conditioning program before the beginning of fall camp. Appalachian will also conduct several player-led practices (no coaches present) in the coming months.

Be sure to tune in to App State TV on Thursday for an exclusive spring wrap-up conversation with Satterfield.