The Sam Houston State University football team wrapped up their spring sessions last Friday night with a spring game that was set up to be an open practice will drills and scenarios.
Now that spring practice has officially wrapped up, head coach K.C. Keeler still has plenty of questions to answer. The biggest question is who the day one starter will be at quarterback for the Bearkats.
Out of the three quarterbacks on the roster, it looks like redshirt sophomore Ty Brock might get the nod. Brock started the final eight games of the 2018 season after taking the starting position from redshirt senior Mike Dare after just three games.
“[Dare] threw the ball very well, and [Brock] did some really good things,” Keeler said. “I think our mentality is every position is up for grabs and we want competition. Just the personality of these three and they are such team guys— they get it and they’re gonna battle.”
Sophomore Eric Schmid is the third option for the Kats. Schmid played a handful of snaps last year, mostly in packages with Brock or Dare also in the backfield.
“I don’t think [Schmid] had a great scrimmage, but he’s had a great spring” Keeler said. “So it’s one of those things where you don’t wanna put everything on just one scrimmage.”
The Bearkats have also loaded up on the defensive side of the ball with the addition of graduate transfer Dwayne Williams. Williams came from Oregon State where he made 22 starts racking up 74 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
“Defensively, I think you’re going to see a little more aggressive version of who we’ve been,” Keeler said. “I think we can do that because of our secondary. When you can cover in the back end it gives you a lot of flexibility with what you can do up front. We’re hanging our hat that we’re as good in the back field as we can be. I think it’s going to give us a lot of options.”
Summer camp will begin soon for the Bearkats. Coaches will keep looking at the depth chart, and incoming freshmen will get to start having official team practices.
The Bearkats will start the season Aug. 31 on the road against the University of New Mexico Lobos. SHSU will have three non-conference matchups before opening up Southland play Sept. 21 against University of Incarnate Word in Huntsville.
Following the Battle of the Piney Woods against SFA, the Kats will play back-to-back home games against Lamar and Nicholls. They will hit the road Oct. 26 to face Central Arkansas and then battle Abilene Christian Nov. 9. The Bearkats return home Nov. 16 to face the Northwestern State Demons before concluding the season the following week at Bowers Stadium against Houston Baptist University.
