Freshman QB Bonnafon moves to vet practice
The big news on Thursday morning wasn't really about anything that happened on the field, though transfer quarterback Tyler Ferguson impressed again.
No, it was more about who wasn't there.
Freshman quarterback Reggie Bonnafon has moved up to the veterans practice, and will face the team's primary defensive players on Wednesday afternoon. Safeties James Sample and Josh Harvey-Clemons will also practice with the experienced group. Both did well against the newcomers in the first two days of camp.
Redshirt sophomore Brandon Radcliff said the promising morning practices with freshmen and transfers have caught his eye.
"It's impossible not to look at them and be happy," Radcliff said. "They look just like the vets during the second practice. Everybody feels like we'll have good team for years to come."
The morning session did have four new faces. Redshirt freshman Kyle Bolin worked out with Ferguson and fellow quarterback transfer Tyler Bruggman. Safeties Jarrod Barnes and Chucky Williams also left the afternoon group and ran with the new guys on Thursday.
Bolin looked sharp among the young guys. More on him below.
Williams moved into the nickel back spot in some of the 11-on-11 drills, allowing Barnes to play alongside redshirt freshman Terrence Ross, who did well at safety.
So that means the not-so-new guys (anyone other than a transfer or true freshman) practicing in the morning on Wednesday included:
Offense: QB Kyle Bolin, WR Kai De La Cruz, WR Dontez Byrd, WR Tae'Shawn Gibbs, WR Chris Miele, FB/TE Lamar Atkins, RB Corvin Lamb, RB Brandon Radcliff, RB Darius Skinner, C Tobijah Hughley, OL David Noltemeyer, OL Joe Manley
Defense: DE Kyle Shortridge, DT Aaron Ahner, DT Gabe Ahner, DT Dominique Dishman, LB Lyn Clark, LB Finesse Middleton, LB Blake Ramsey, LB Royce Donovan, DB Brandon Joseph, DB Chucky Williams, DB Jarrod Barnes, DB Terrence Ross, DB Richard Benjamin
DAY 3 MORNING STANDOUTS
* Javonte Bagley once again made an impression while still leaving a few completions on the turf. The potential is hard to ignore. And there's still a lot to learn. But his size and big-play ability made him a constant deep threat for morning quarterbacks Kyle Bolin, Tyler Ferguson and Tyler Bruggman.
* I will say Bolin, who was moved from afternoon practice with the veterans to morning practice with the new guys, looked pretty sharp. He's a redshirt freshman, and a knee injury kept him off pace of the backup spot this summer. This morning he made a few finds with his arm and looked comfortable scrambling. I don't know if he'll see the field at U of L, but he did well today.
* It's hard to tell with the defenders in practice because there's no hitting, but freshman corner Trumaine Washington sat in his zone spot when Bagley ran the wrong route and Ferguson threw where he thought Bagley would be. Washington snapped it up for a pick and would've scored on a play like that in a game. Outside linebacker Lyn Clark also got the right spots a few times.
NOTABLE
* Bagley ran a vertical route down the left sideline, blowing by Washington at the line of scrimmage and drawing the attention of Ferguson, who lofted a 50-yard pass toward the freshman receiver. But Washington did well to catch up and jostle for position with Bagley. In fact, the 6-foot-3 Bagley was covered as well as he could've been in that situation, but he still timed his jump and stretched his arms over Washington's head and plucked the ball before the 5-10 Washington could reach for it.
* Corvin Lamb probably could've been a standout. He blew through a hole on the left side, shifted toward the sideline to outrun a linebacker and then accelerated through the secondary. Terrence Ross took a good angle to tap Lamb out after a 25-yard gain, but that open-field tackle in real time might've been tough to make.
* Charles Standberry caught my eye today with a nice grab in traffic. The freshman tight end had a linebacker on him and a safety breaking on the ball, but Standberry still nicked it from the sky just before the defenders did. I'd say either defender could've picked it if Standberry hadn't reached it first.
QUOTABLE
"You're going to put me on the spot like that? Man, those boys are cheetahs." -- receiver Kai De La Cruz when asked to pick between Corvin Lamb or Charles Gaines in a footrace.
INJURY UPDATE
A few guys who came into camp off injuries practiced this morning for the third straight day. Bolin (knee), Lamb (knee), Kyle Shortridge (ankle) and Brandon Radcliff (knee) all looked fine once again.