Fresno State started fall football practice Thursday with no frills, just drills.
"Everyone's upbeat," said freshman quarterback Derek Carr. "Today was kind of a light day. All the guys are used to getting killed the first day. ... But they're keeping us fresh. We're loving that right now."
Coach Pat Hill said after practice that among his biggest concerns for this first week were keeping his players healthy and their legs energized.
Running back Ryan Mathews said the training schedule has him ready to go now.
"We had a really good spring ball and really hard workouts in the summer," Mathews said. "We're ready to get out there."
Fresno State receiver Jamel Hamler hauls in a catch during the first day of fall camp on Thursday. Enthusiasm was felt on both sides of the ball.
Scenes from 'Dogs football practicePractice scheduleA look at Fresno State's schedule of fall football practices open to the public. Today-Monday: 9 a.m.- 12:45 p.m., practice facility Tuesday: 9-11:30 a.m; 8-10 p.m., practice facility Wednesday: 3-5:30 p.m., Bulldog Stadium Aug. 13: 8:50-11:30 a.m.; 8-10 p.m., practice facility Aug. 14: 3-5:30 p.m., Bulldog Stadium Aug. 15: 9:45-11a.m., practice facility; 8-10 p.m., scrimmage, Bulldog Stadium(Note: Sessions Aug. 16-29 are closed)Game schedule Sept. 5: vs. UC Davis, 7 p.m. Sept. 12: at Wisconsin, 9 a.m. Sept. 18: vs. Boise State, 6 p.m. Sept. 26: at Cincinnati, 9 a.m. Oct. 10: at Hawaii, 9:05 p.m. Oct. 17: vs. San Jose St., 7 p.m. Oct. 24: at New Mexico St., 5 p.m. Oct. 31: vs. Utah State, 2 p.m. Nov. 7: at Idaho, 2 p.m. Nov. 14: at Nevada, 1:05 p.m. Nov. 21: vs. La. Tech, 2 p.m. Dec. 5: at Illinois, 9:30 a.m.
About 50 fans watched the Bulldogs participate in a split practice, where the younger first- and second-year players practiced early in the morning before being joined later in the morning by the veterans. Both groups went about 21/2 hours.
A number of items piqued the interest of onlookers:
Quarterback shuffle
Redshirt freshman Ebahn Feathers took snaps with the younger players, while junior Ryan Colburn and freshman Derek Carr took snaps with the veterans. That will continue until the end of split practices in five days, Hill said. Putting Feathers with the younger players (along with freshman walk-on quarterback Tyler Stirewalt from Aquinas High-San Bernardino) allows all the quarterbacks to get more repetitions, Hill said.
The split practices were designed to allow the younger guys a few days to impress the coaches.
One in, one out
Junior defensive tackle Cornell Banks practiced with the younger players, but at least he's practicing. That's a great sign because he had to sit out spring ball to focus on his academics.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pound player could be a large force this season in helping to stop the run, an area where the Bulldogs struggled last year. Fresno State ranked 108th in the nation and allowed more than 200 yards per game.
"It's kind of different for me, practicing with these [young guys]," Banks said. "I guess because I missed spring ball, this is what I have to do to get back in the starting rotation, win my spot back."
As for academics, Banks said he's all caught up.
"I'm cleared, passed all my classes," he said. "I'm good. I'm ready to go."
Two soon to come
Hill said two players didn't report on time: junior college transfer Donnie Pritchett and incoming freshman Alex Jefferies.
Pritchett is a 6-5, 290-pound defensive lineman who could have an immediate impact when he arrives. Hill said Pritchett needs to take a final exam at Fresno City College today and that Santa Rosa Junior College needs to post his associate degree online before he can practice. "It's just a matter of paperwork," Hill said.
Jefferies played running back, quarterback, receiver and defensive back at Eisenhower High-Rialto last season. He needs to finish one more course to qualify academically before reporting.
Lineman no longer on team
Team spokesman Steve Weakland said lineman Porter Hill is no longer with the team.
Hill, a redshirt freshman from Compton, missed last season due to injury. He tried to play at Fresno State in 2007, but a transcript problem kept him from joining the team.
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