Benedict Coach Pleased With 1st Practice In Pads

COLUMBIA, S.C. (BC SID) — The Benedict College football team held its first practice in full pads on Monday, and coach James Woody was happy over what he described as the team’s best practice under his tutelage. “I was really, really excited about what we had going on today. We had a very good practice. Of all the times we’ve been out here, that was our best practice in pads,” Woody said. Part of the practice featured drills between the offensive and defensive lines. Woody said the young offensive line stood toe-to-toe with the Tigers’ veteran defensive line. “We’ve got a lot of freshmen who are really stepping up and doing a good on the offensive line. The defensive line is doing very well with our veterans, so it was a challenge,” Woody said. “It was a fight and I was extremely pleased with the up-tempo of the practice and all the things we got done today.” The Tigers also spent part of the practice doing seven-on-seven passing drills. The Tigers have a large contingent of wide receivers, but don’t have much depth in the defensive secondary. Woody said the team moved Simeon Kelly, a quarterback last year who was expected to compete for a wide receiver position this year, to defensive back, and Kelly looked good in his first day on the defensive side of the ball. “He really, really did a great job today,” Woody said. “He played both ways in high school. I was very impressed, so I think we’ve got something good going there.” The Tigers also worked on punting, field goals and special teams. The Tigers will have their first day of two practices on Tuesday. The morning practice will start at 5:30 a.m., followed by an afternoon practice at 4 p.m.