Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Football camp notebook -- Day Five
08/13/2015 | 12:00:00 | Football
By Tom Weber
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - On the first day of full pads, the team held an action-packed 35-play live scrimmage at Saluki Stadium. Contact was live on all four quarterbacks. Here are some highlights from Thursday morning's session.
1. As expected, fifth-year senior QB Mark Iannotti directed the first team offense. The other skill players to join him on the first unit were WR Connor Iwema, WR Jimmy Jones, WR Israel Lamprakes, TE Adam Fuehne and RB Daquan Isom. Iannotti led the offense on an 11-play drive from its own 35 to the Defense 30 before settling for a 47-yard Austin Johnson field goal. There were no big plays in the passing game, but Iwema carried for eight yards on an end around, and Isom picked up 12 yards on back-to-back carries.
2. Redshirt freshman QB Sam Straub guided the second-team offense, and on the first play from scrimmage, RB Cameron Walter busted loose up the middle for a 39-yard gain. The drive stalled and Chris Adams booted a 39-yard field goal. It was good to see Walter — who is the team's only returning ball carrier — back in the mix, as he had been slowed by a nagging injury.
3. Northern Illinois transfer QB Matt McIntosh was impressive with the third-team offense. He completed a couple of quick outs to WR Kennington Easley for a gain of nine yards. On 3rd-and-1, McIntosh kept the ball on the read-option and sprinted past defenders for a 56-yard touchdown run. Once he reached the open field, no one could catch him.
4. True freshman QB Tanner Hearn made a nice throw on a 17-yard completion to WR Jamaal Flowers, but the drive ended after a pair of two-yard carries by RB Michael Nero and an incomplete pass.
5. The next drive started at midfield with Iannotti back the helm. He picked up 10 yards on a quarterback keeper, and on 3rd-and-10, he hit wide open WR Kyle Newquist for a 40-yard touchdown strike. Newquist had about five yards of separation from CB Andrew McCrea.
6. Straub led the final drive that started at the Defense 20. He made a nice throw for a 12-yard completion to WR Jimmy Jones. On 4th-and-goal from the 3, Straub dove into the end zone on a keeper, but the ball came loose after he crossed the goal line. It would have counted in a real game, but Coach Lennon disallowed the score because you never want to put the ball on the ground in the red zone.
7. The three true freshmen running backs (Daquan Isom, Michael Nero and Chris Perkins) are all under consideration to play this season. There's a chance one or more will not redshirt.
8. The team worked on open-field tackling drills early in practice. In the middle of the field, a running back was pitted against a linebacker. In another corner of the field, tight ends and fullbacks battled with defensive linemen. On the far side of the turf, wide receivers went toe-to-toe with defensive backs. Two players who caught my attention were FB Hans Carmien, who bulldozed DE Nate Sylvester, and Isom, who demonstrated surprising tackle-breaking ability, considering he's only 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds.
9. During 7-on-7, three true freshmen came up with interceptions. OLB Rondarian Bell leaped to make a one-handed snag of a ball thrown by McIntosh. ILB Cody Crider and CB ShawnTrez Spates both picked off passes by Straub.
10. Sophomore ILB Markese Jackson is working with the first team and stood out for his run-stopping ability. He lands a jolt when he steps up and fills a hole.
