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Tigers Open Camp With Early Morning Workout 8/4/08

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football.jpegMEMPHIS, TENN. - As is the norm with Memphis Tiger football, the squad opened its 2008 fall camp with a 5:45 a.m. practice in shorts at the Murphy Athletic Complex on Monday.

The team opened the morning with stretching under the lights and broke off into position drills that lasted for nearly an hour and a half. The group took a 10 minute Gatorade break before the offensive and defensive lines made their way to the weightroom, and the rest of the squad remained on the field for special teams work.

All eyes were on the quarterbacks as Will Hudgens, Arkelon Hall, Brett Toney and Tyler Bass took reps with the talented receiving corps. Following practice, head coach Tommy West addressed members of the local sports media who inquired about the competition at quarterback.

“I thought that Arkelon looked like he had been here, and looked really comfortable going with the ones,” said West. “Will looked like he had been playing baseball and he hadn’t been involved in football, which is normal. It is good to have Will back here. And, Tyler looked like a freshman and has a ton of learning to do, while Brett did some good things running with the ball, which he does. It is kind of like what I thought it would be and it is nice to have all four of them here.”

When asked who he expects to be the starter this season, West responded, “Arkelon is the guy and unless he messes it up, he is going to start the opening ball game. I have already made that decision. It’s his and I don’t expect him to mess it up. I want Will to compete with him and Will could have a chance to win a game for us. Will knew that when he played baseball all spring. Will is going to play in every game.”

Overall, West appeared to be pleased with the intensity and enthusiasm in the first practice.

“I thought it was a really good practice,” West said. “It was really good to be back out here. We have enough veteran players that the young guys need to just keep up because I think everybody was anxious. Everybody was ready to go 10 minutes early this morning. I thought overall it was a really good day.”

The Tigers will continue with the mandatory five days in shorts for the rest of the week, and will suit up in full pads on Saturday for the first of a two-a-day session that morning.

Posted by rakuette | Filed under Football