Wofford begins spring practice under new head coach
Courtesy: Wofford Athletics
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Under the direction of new head coach Josh Conklin, the Wofford football team returned to the field Wednesday night to open spring practice. It was the first of fifteen scheduled practices over the next four weeks.
On the first day, the Terriers worked out in helmets on the lower practice fields for approximately two hours. The practice focused primarily on the fundamentals, with no live tackling. Team schemes were implemented on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
Conklin, taking over a team that reached the NCAA FCS Quarterfinals last season, has thirteen starters returning. There are five starters back on offense, along with six on defense and two specialists.
“It was a great start,” said Conklin. “The guys came out with a lot of energy. There is a lot of carryover from last year. Some of the defensive stuff we are doing is a little different and the guys picked it up real well. On offense they were playing fast, which is one of the things we stressed to them yesterday in meetings. Over the spring I want guys to become more comfortable. It is going to be different for everyone with a new head coach, new defensive coordinator and how we operate as a staff. A lot of it is going to be the same, but there are going to be some nuances that are different. I think the guys understand that the grassroots of what we are is not going to change.”
On the injury front, several players were either held out or limited in practice including LB Datavious Wilson, DL Miles Brown, HB Lennox McAfee, OL Moe Arman, LB Joe Beckett, and CB Omari Johnson.
Wofford will hold the first of two scrimmages on Saturday, February 24 at 9:00 am. The second scrimmage is scheduled for Saturday, March 3, at 10:00 am. If needed, a third scrimmage would be on Saturday, March 10.
Coaches are invited to the 2018 Coaches Clinic, which will be held from March 1-3. The Wofford wingbone/gun option offense will be highlighted, along with the 50 (3-4) defense. For more information, please contact Joel Antley at antleyjw@wofford.edu.
Wofford Athletics contributed to the writing of this article.
