In his first real spring practice at Sam Houston State, head coach K.C. Keeler prepares for the Orange vs. White spring game Friday.
The theme for this year’s spring game is called “Past, Present, and Future.” The name is self-explanatory based off the meaning of this game.
“We’re going to highlight the past, the present and the future next Friday,” Keeler said to Bearkat Athletics. “Our former lettermen will participate in a special barbeque. Obviously, we have the present in the guys in spring ball and their families coming in. And we will have the future with our entire signing class and their families here as well.”
All eyes will be on the quarterback position Friday night. The returning starter, junior quarterback Jared Johnson, is the favorite for the job next year but finds himself in a competition unlike before.
Although Johnson received All-Southland Conference honorable mention, he will compete with transfer quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe from Alabama-Birmingham. Briscoe was a four-star recruit coming out of high school in 2012.
Johnson has been limited due to surgery, so that gives Keeler an extra opportunity to evaluate Briscoe as well as junior Don King III and redshirt freshman Cole Martin.
”Johnson has become like another coach on the field in terms of helping Jeremiah,” Keeler said. “I’ve never seen a guy who knows this kid is here trying to take his job give him as much as he’s given Jeremiah. Jared has said that he believes the competition is just going to make all the quarterbacks better.”
The quarterback competition will make the world go round, but the Bearkats were ranked ninth in the conference in total defense. The front seven stepped up towards the end of the season when the Kats went on their incredible run, but the struggles came from the secondary.
The Kats bring back 57 letterman, having lost only two starting seniors due to graduation.
“It’s going to be a neat day,” Keeler said.
The game will begin Friday at 7 p.m. at Bowers Stadium.