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ULM Spring Football: Rugged Running, Big Plays Highlight First Scrimmage

ULM Spring Football: Rugged Running, Big Plays Highlight First Scrimmage

Football Mar 30
By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist
 
MONROE, La. – Tough running by a stable of tailbacks along with a few big plays sprinkled in highlighted ULM football's first spring scrimmage on Saturday, March 30 in Malone Stadium. 
        
Fifth-year senior Austin Vaughn carried five times for 57 yards and scored on a 20-yard touchdown run to lead a balanced backfield. Red-shirt freshman Isaiah Phillips had five carries for 43 yards, junior Josh Johnson had five carries for 39 yards and a 2-yard score while junior Kayin White contributed 28 yards and a 10-yard touchdown on four carries. Johnson also made four catches for 40 yards, including a 32-yard reception from Caleb Evans. 

"Competition breeds greatness," Vaughn said after Saturday's morning session. "Guys come in every day working hard because they know the best guy is going to play. Everybody wants to get their reps and do the best they can with their reps."

Evans, ULM's returning starter at quarterback, completed 7-of-11 passes for 101 yards with a 42-yard touchdown to receiver Zach Jackson. 

"I thought Zach Jackson made a great play, which was encouraging," ULM coach Matt Viator said. "I thought we ran the ball pretty good and we got to run a bunch of guys. All in all, pretty good." 

Jackson figures to be one of the big-play options in the offense as he enters his red-shirt sophomore season. He showed off that ability on his long catch. 

"I think it was third down," Jackson said. "I ran a post curl and saw the ball coming. I went and got it and attacked. After that, it was just instinct." 

The back-up quarterbacks posted interesting numbers. Red-shirt freshman Colby Suits, who followed Evans in the rotation, was 3-of-9 for 31 yards. Fifth-year senior JT Jackson was 3-for-6 for 24 yards with a touchdown to red-shirt freshman Jahquan Bloomfield. Junior Brennen Wooten hit 7-of-7 passes for 86 yards and two scores. 
        
"We're getting good work each day," Viator said. "It's pretty much like this every day other than the tackling. I think we're making progress. We'll see how it goes. Possibly next weekend we'll let them run, because that's a big part of it, a guy who can make some plays with his legs too. We'll try to possibly incorporate that next week."
        
Viator added: "I think Wooten has improved, no question. I think he has a better grasp of what we're doing. JT is very steady and does a lot of things. I think Suits is progressing pretty good too."  

Wooten's touchdowns went to CJ Fletcher for 11 yards and to Pearl River Community College transfer tight end Donavon Hickman, who raced down the sidelines 45 yards for the score.      

"That was a bootleg play," Viator said. "He caught it and got a block. Looked pretty good doing it from where I was standing."   

Defensive end Myles Cole blocked a punt and took it in 15 yards for a touchdown. 

Defensive linemen Ty Shelby and Sir'Darrius Ellis notched sacks while Dayonte Roberts had two tackles for losses. The first-team defense had the edge early as Evans was incomplete on his first four pass attempts.  

"We started really good on defense," Viator said. "We were three-and-out the first two series before the offense made a couple of plays." 

In addition to Hickman's touchdown, players from the most recent recruiting class are having an impact this spring. East Mississippi Community College transfer Keilos Swinney started at safety. 

"We're excited about Keilos," Viator said. "We're really excited too about the two defensive linemen. Ivin White has really played well. Edward Haralson was out for a week with pneumonia and missed a whole week, so he's trying to get back going."

Swinney's opportunity came with Jabari Johnson out the past week with a minor injury.

"We started Jabari this spring as a buck safety down and were playing Keilos with him, but Jabari got hurt," Viator said. "Nothing serious, I think he'll be back Tuesday. Keilos got a lot of reps. The thing I've been impressed with about Keilos is he picked this thing up a lot quicker than a lot of people do."    
        
Tail feathers: Left-footed kicker Jacob Meeks along with Devin Parker handled the kicking duties. Meeks missed a 47-yard attempt and Parker was good from 37 yards out. … Viator said Jared Porter, who punted last season, was held out with an injury. Craig Walker and Parker handled punting chores. … Wide receivers Xavier Brown and Brandius Batiste also missed the scrimmage with injuries. … ULM's second spring scrimmage will be Saturday, April 6 and is open to the public. 
 
 
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