Thursday's workout — the first for 2010 freshmen

[PonyPride]

Members of the SMU football team convened once more Thursday afternoon at Gerald J. Ford Stadium for another optional conditioning workout, which was preceded by an informal seven-on-seven session ... the first in which the incoming freshmen were eligible to participate.

Among the freshmen on hand Thursday were quarterback Steve Kaiser; running backs Kevin Pope and Darryl Fields; receivers Jeremy Johnson, Keenan Holman and Kyle Guinyard; offensive linemen Ashton Duhe and Ben Gottschalk (who I didn't actually see, but I'm told he's around); defensive tackle Mike O'Guin, who was on campus for the spring semester; linebackers Forrest Haga, Uchenna Nwabuike, John Bordano and Anthony Beard; and defensive backs Chris Parks, Richard Crawford, Justin Sorrell, Der'Rikk Thompson, Randall Joyner, Kenneth Acker and Hayden Grenbauer. There might be others around, but those were the ones I could confirm Thursday.

Before the Ponies went through their conditioning work, most of the quarterbacks, receivers, running backs, defensive backs and linebackers went through an informal seven-on-seven session, which was used largely to introduce the newcomers to the very basics of some schemes in which they will be playing. Returning players ran the first few snaps, but soon gave way to newcomers, with veterans offering tips about where to line up, etc. Some plays of note:

• Freshman WR Jeremy Johnson took his first snaps at his new position after starring at QB for John Tyler HS in Tyler, Texas. On his first few snaps, he was watching teammates to see where to put his feet before the snap, etc., but looked more comfortable as he started running routes. On his first college catch, he ran a quick out route and caught a pass from QB Kyle Padron, stumbled a little as he turned but regained his balance as he turned upfield.

• Junior WR Cole Loftin looked good. He caught a pass from Padron in the back of the end zone, while leaning backward and keeping a foot inbounds, and later dragged a foot inside the sideline to snag a sideline pass from J.J. McDermott. He also was the target on one of the nicer defensive plays, when a deep pass over the middle intended for Loftin was broken up at the last second by LB Victor Jones (S Justin Sorrell also was zeroing in on the pass ... or maybe on Loftin).

• Bigger doesn't always mean better, but the offense presented a tantalizing preview of what might be coming when the 6-4 Padron fired a high pass over the middle to WR Brad Haynes (6-3). Haynes got up pretty high, and snagged the pass a couple of feet beyond the reach of two DBs.

• Teammates talked last year about McDermott's accuracy while running the scout team offense in 2009, and it was on display Thursday. Twice he threw passes low and outside to receivers running routes toward the sideline, where only his receiver had a chance to make the catch, or it would fall incomplete. Freshman WR Marcus Holyfield made a particularly nice grab, leaning out of bounds to snag a pass that was about at knee level.

• Didn't get a chance to talk to many freshmen, but Guinyard reports that he is now up to 203 pounds, while Duhe said he has lost 18 pounds (to get down to 318) since his arrival on campus last month, and plans to lose about another 18-20.

• Junior Aaron "Spike" Davis is bulking up in preparation for his move from DE to NT. Late in the team's spring workouts, he weighed in at 243. He said he weighed in Thursday at 261.

A year ago, Padron was one of the freshmen making his summer debut, trying to get acclimated to his new team. Now, while hardly an old man as a sophomore-to-be, Padron said he remembers what the freshmen go through on their first day.

"Chaos," he said, when asked what he remembers from his first day with the team last summer. "It was a big cluster. I remember Bo Levi (Mitchell) talking me through (seven-on-seven) plays, helping me with what the reads were. It's a lot. They're not going to pick up anything the first day. It's a slow process."

Padron declined to single out any newcomers who stood out, pointing out that they all have a long way to go, but did point out that freshman WR Jeremy Johnson made a few catches, and admitted that he almost threw an interception to junior college transfer CB Richard Crawford.

"The speed of the game," Padron said when asked what the biggest adjustment is for the newcomers. "They'll come along. A lot of them look pretty good, and once they start to pick up the systems, they'll be able to help us."

[Vitale]

These reports are just one reason why you guys are alone at the top covering the Ponies.
Thanks

[giacfsp]

Good stuff, PP.

[StallionsModelT]

Is Ricky Collins on campus or is he one of the academic casualties?

[SMUfiji43]

Did Daryl Jackson qualify? He looks like he has a lot of potential. It'd be a bummer if he doesn't make it.

[Purple Wimple]

nobody online gets as close to TCU's program as Pony Pride gets to SMU's.

At least, nobody who's willing to share. (there are a few who post very little snippits, but I gather if they posted more, CGP would cut them off.)

[reddevil]

Any word about Scardino Daniels? Did he qualify?

[PK]

nobody online gets as close to TCU's program as Pony Pride gets to SMU's.

At least, nobody who's willing to share. (there are a few who post very little snippits, but I gather if they posted more, CGP would cut them off.)

PonyPride is the best. Hell of a great sports journalist. We are lucky he loves the Mustangs.

[davidpaul123]

How did Pope and Thompson look out there considering their recovery from knee injuries?

[SMUer]

quarterback Steve Kaiser; running backs Kevin Pope and Darryl Fields; receivers Jeremy Johnson, Keenan Holman and Kyle Guinyard; offensive linemen Ashton Duhe and Ben Gottschalk; defensive tackle Mike O'Guin; linebackers Forrest Hagar, Uchenna Nwabuike, John Bordano and Anthony Beard; and defensive backs Chris Parks, Richard Crawford, Justin Sorrell, Der'rikk Thompson, Randall Joyner, Kenneth Acker and Hayden Grenbauer.

So what is all this doom-and-gloom about on the observer website (http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/sportatorium/), did Brandon Thornton, Ricky Collins, Jeremy Hall , Arthur Londy, Marice Sutton, or Joseph Theard not qualify?

UPDATE: I see now that Jeremy Hall was denied admission for unspecified reasons.

[htownponyfan]

Any word on how Darryl Fields did in the workout?

[Purple Wimple]

[quote="PK"]PonyPride is the best. Hell of a great sports journalist. We are lucky he loves the Mustangs.[/quote]

indeed.

[Sam I Am]

It is great to actually have football preparations begin this early and have something real to talk about. Great reporting, thanks bunches.

[PonyPride]

Any word on how Darryl Fields did in the workout?

He did a fine job of standing around and listening to Kyle Padron and J.J. McDermott. Thursday's session was largely an introductory teaching session, and just about all of the passes were thrown to wide receivers. Fields and fellow freshman running back Kevin Pope listened to the plays called, and when the ball was snapped to either Padron or McDermott (Steve Kaiser was an observer only), they took a step or two forward and assumed a blocking stance (with no defenders rushing the passer) and that was it. They obviously weren't hitting anyone. Basically they were getting used to the names of a few plays, hearing the cadence from their new quarterbacks and getting a glimpse of what a college defense (albeit a skeleton seven-on-seven defense) looks like.

How did Pope and Thompson look out there considering their recovery from knee injuries?

Hard to say — again, a lot of players were simply observing, and I'm still getting used to what the new guys look like. I did see both of them walking inside today (Friday), and both seemed OK, but that's a far cry from running on the field. I think both have claimed to be 100 percent, but I'll follow up.

[indianmustang]

thanks for the updates