Aug. 8, 2008
Briscoe Out Of The Gates Quickly: Junior DE Kendall Briscoe has enjoyed a strong start during the first four days of training camp. After bulking up to 285 pounds and making big strides in the weight room during the offseason, Briscoe has been one of the top performers on the defensive line in early camp action. The 23-game veteran has been a regular in the backfield and has also displayed a fiery, physical attitude in the trenches. If he can maintain his consistency, look for No. 53 to play a big role up front this fall.
Scary Collision: QB Donovan Porterie and LG Mike Cannon collided on a reverse play, leaving both men in a bit of pain on the ground. All eyes were on Porterie, however, with the third-year starter giving up 87-pounds in the crash. Fortunately both men dusted themselves off and jumped back in the huddle for the next play.
Talking Heads: Spend a little time on the defensive sideline at practice and you’ll hear the veteran safeties – Sr. Blake Ligon, Jr. Clint McPeek, Jr. Ian Clark, Jr. Frankie Solomon – breaking down each play amongst each other. The discussions often need a translator with the amount of terminology being tossed around, but it’s encouraging to see the veterans in the Lobos’ secondary coach each other as they perfect their execution of the scheme.
Wright To The House: The offensive highlight of the day on Thursday was redshirt freshman RB James Wright’s 45-yard touchdown run against the first team defense. Wright took the toss to the right, then expertly faked a reverse hand-off to WR Jermaine McQueen before bursting through a hole and outrunning the defense down the right sideline for the score.
Nowhere To Throw It: The Lobos’ defensive backs have received plenty of preseason hype with both CollegeFootballNews.com and Athlon naming the group the best in the Mountain West Conference in 2008. If the first four days of training camp are any indication though, the attention has been well deserved. Thursday’s team scrimmage situations saw the quarterbacks forced to throw the ball away to the sideline time and time again, including three straight passing plays at one point, with the receivers blanketed downfield.