University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Spring Football Report: Day 4
3/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss football team got back onto the field for the first time since Friday, wearing full pads again and kicking off its first scrimmage week.
Head coach Jay Hopson
On the center position
"We're still seeing competition there. Tyler Stutzman and Wyatt Richthofen are doing well. We also have some guys we can flip around there. It's still early in the spring, and we are anxious for Saturday's scrimmage. That'll give us a good indicator on a lot of things."
On how the day itself went
"Spring always has good and bad. I sound like a broken record each day, but that's the reality of it. Offensively we had a good day today despite some missed execution, and defensively we didn't pick it up till the end. I thought at the beginning we were in a lull. It's the spring and you see a lot of things to correct and some guys doing good things. We just have to keep building."
On what the running back depth means to the team
"I think it's big. I think it's more what it's all about at this point; Tez Parks and George Payne solidifying that spot. Everything is up for grabs, and we know Ito Smith is a tremendous football player, and those guys are battling for playing time. You need three backs. You have to have that change of pace. Any good offense is gonna have three backs that you can change things up with. That's what we are blessed with in this group. We will put the pads on Saturday and see what we can get."
Sophomore quarterback Keon Howard
On how spring football has been for him
"It's been good. We've been rotating the 1's and 2's in and out. Spring ball is all about reps and getting on the go. It feels good. Any given time it can be taken away, so you just have to cherish every rep. You never know when it'll be your last."
On his competition with Kwadra Griggs
"I honestly feel like this competition is helping me get better. I've understood the playbook way better, and the competition is making me want to learn and play better."
On what his late-season game experience meant for him
"The experience was great. You have to go through the fire to be successful in life. The last three or four games helped me understand how to appraoch a game. It helped me fight through adversity and to slow things down in the spring in knowing the formations and defense."
