DATE – March 11, 2020
VENUE – Grass football practice fields
FORMAT – Full pads
WATCHING THE CORNERBACKS
A perfect example of the purpose of spring ball could be summed up in three consecutive drills the San Jose State cornerbacks took part in on Wednesday.
First, with the corners by themselves, players worked on backpedaling and quickly changing direction. Then, the wide receiver group joined the drill and the intensity picked up. With a fake snap, wide receivers came off the ball, ran a route and tried to run past corners who worked on jamming the receiver, backpedaling and staying with their man.
In the next drill, quarterbacks were added to the mix and the intensity went up another level. Now wide receivers went 1-on-1 against corners with a ball in play. After a couple catches to start, the cornerbacks came alive. Freshman Stan Livingstone tipped away a deep ball and juggled the catch for an interception. On the next play, junior Tre White poked the ball away on a slant route. There was a breakup on a third straight play as junior Nehemiah Shelton ran stride for stride with a receiver and tipped away a deep ball.
"I really like to focus on technique in the spring," said defensive backs coach Aric Williams. "Where's your first step? Where are your eyes? Where's your pad level?"
Like in the drills during practice, Williams uses competition off the field to see what his players have learned. When watching film, players will be called upon to diagnose a formation or analyze the technique of a teammate in front of the group.
"I like to put guys in pressure situations, out here at practice and in the meeting room," Williams said. "If they can teach it, they know it."
The Spartans need to replace starting corner Brandon Ezell for 2020. Williams will have plenty of options, with a mix of veterans and new faces.
"We're having fun out there, everybody is helping everybody," Williams added. "Nobody is complaining about reps, they're just out there getting better. I'm liking the camaraderie we have right now."
WHO'S BACK AT CORNER
The Spartans return one starter at corner in Shelton, who played in all 12 games last year with 42 tackles, three interceptions and team-high seven pass breakups. San Jose State was ninth in the NCAA last year with 16 interceptions and only five of them were by seniors. In addition to Shelton's three, Bobby Brown II had three; safety Jay Lenard and linebacker Rico Tolefree, two, each; and safety Tre Webb one.
Shelton, Brown, moving from a safety to corner, and Johnny Balderas all return for the 2020 season with eyes on starting roles.
"I'm going on year three with some of these guys," Williams said. "They know how I coach. They know the technique I'm teaching. I have great film of them to teach off of."
Charlie Bostic III has earned some first team corner reps after redshirting last season.
WHO'S NEW AT CORNER
This spring the Spartans have two returning redshirts at corner plus two spring semester enrollees from the 2020 signing class. Charlie Bostic III, a redshirt freshman out of Valley Christian High in Saratoga, Calif., has started his climb up the depth chart.
"God blessed Charlie with a lot of talent," Williams said. "He's been working for a year now on the scout team. He's doing really well."
In both nickel and base defenses on Wednesday, Bostic got some reps with the No. 1 groups. On one play, a running back caught the ball in the flat and had some room to run but Bostic closed the gap quickly and made a tackle in space for just a short gain. In the 1-on-1 session against wide receivers, Bostic broke up a pass on the very first play.
Junior college transfer Malik Welch joins the Spartans from Long Beach City College while freshman Kenyon Reed came in during the offseason from Kansas State after playing high school football at Long Beach Poly. Reed will need to redshirt the season after transferring.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR IN THE SPRING GAME
With his experience, Brown seems to be the favorite to take over the other starting corner spot, opposite Shelton. Keep an eye out for the ballhawk - Brown had two picks against quarterback Nick Starkel in the Arkansas win last year. With Starkel now suiting up for the Spartans, will he get another in the Spring Game?
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
In full pads for the first time this spring, head coach Brent Brennan's squad focused on tackling in the early practice sessions. In one drill, a giant bouncy ball was thrown into the ground by a member of the staff and players had to react to how it bounced and grab it. With the ball usually around two feet off the ground when they made contact, players had to sink their hips and quickly grab it, similar to an open field tackle.
If you forgot how talented senior wide receiver Tre Walker was, his spectacular diving catch on the sideline on Wednesday reminded you. In a 7-on-7 period, Isaiah Hamilton made a short catch but spun out of a tackle for a long gain. Senior Derrick Deese, Jr., saved a potential interception by leaping up and snagging a ball that was thrown a bit too high for most players, but not for the athletic 6-foot-4 tight end.
Nick Starkel lofted a deep touchdown pass to senior Bailey Gaither during the 11-on-11 session at Wednesday's practice.
QUARTERBACK BATTLE
In the 1-on-1 drill with wide receivers and corners, Starkel showed off his arm strength with a rocket to Jamar Simpson on an out route. Early in the 11-on-11 session, Starkel hit Bailey Gaither for a 75-yard touchdown strike. Freshman quarterback Natano Woods (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) also showed off his arm strength and vision with a pass over the middle to Gaither. Nick Nash had an impressive scramble up the middle after the pocket collapsed. Both Jake Simmons and Alec Trujillo connected with senior Austin Liles, putting the ball where only the 6-foot-3 wide out could catch it.
SPRING RECAP SCHEDULE
March 6 – Defensive Line
March 9 – Linebackers
March 11 – Cornerbacks
Season ticket renewals and new purchases for the 2020 San José State football season can be made by calling or by texting RENEW or NEW to (408) 924-7589.