A couple practices remain before Saturday’s spring game, as the Spiders are nearly done with their work before summer break.

Practice updates

Overall

Two focuses the last group of practices – protection and red zone.

More time spent on blitz pickups, which makes sense given a new starting center and a few guys fighting for the final starting spot. Capristo continues to do well at center, and I’ve seen both Mason Imbt and Ronald Anderson at right guard. It’s also given the defense more opportunities to work on their blitz packages. We all know this isn’t a blitz happy scheme, yet we’re effective when we turn to it.

Lots of red zone work the past couple weeks as well – a good chunk of this scheme will be centered around Wickersham’s legs, but we all know we have to throw the ball better down near the goal line. I think we’ll see a lot of RPOs to keep defenses honest and make the reads quicker/easier.

Offense

Wickersham is moving really well, with no hesitancy on designed runs. We’re moving the pocket/getting in space more often, easily the biggest change I think we’ll see in this offense. Plenty of comments last season about not moving the pocket and getting guys on the edge, even after Coleman showed a solid ability to run. I think we lean on that much more in 2025, as I’ve seen designs to get Wickersham on the move and either attack the flat or keep it himself. We’ll also see more QB reads, which will force defenses to account for #16 and allows us to run wider if we choose. This will still be a downhill running football team, but I do think we can get outside the A & B gaps more than last year.

The wide receiver group stood out the most to me this spring. Big question marks entering 2025, and although we don’t have all the answers just yet, we’ve got some strong pieces. Ja’Vion Griffin continues to be reliable outside, and he’ll be counted on as the only returning target with more than 20 receptions. Who lines up opposite of him is still being sorted out, but redshirt freshman Andreas Hill is someone to keep an eye on. Hill has great size (6′ 4″) and a strong ability to locate the ball in the air. Ridiculous to already compare him against someone as good as Landon Ellis, but if you’re looking for a recent comp I think he’ll remind you of what Ellis could do as a route runner and in 1-on-1s.

Slot receiver has me most excited – Quanye Veney was super consistent this spring, something the Spiders need from this position. Maryland transfer Jaiden Fair is a solid route runner that’s hard to matchup against in space, while redshirt freshman Isaiah Dawson is as shifty as they come. I’d love to see all three this fall, as this is the most depth we’ve had at this position in a while. Between making plays in space and being vertical threats, I think we’ll see a massive production boost from the slot position this fall.

Very curious how tight end plays out. We had a few offers over the winter that didn’t materialize, and with four on the roster I could see us adding another. I think this scheme will place an even higher premium on run blocking from this group. Sean Clarke remains TE1, with redshirt freshman Ryan Campbell also playing well. It’s nice to see another younger Spider getting an early chance to see the field, especially if we use more 12 personnel (two tight ends).

Defense

Glassmyer and Seelmann remain the two inside linebackers, with Owen Laughlin having a really nice spring. Seelmann is only a true sophomore this fall, so having an experienced player behind him has me feeling good about this group. Will linebacker is the big question mark. Harrison Wood has gotten a majority of the reps with the 1s, with Blake Houser working with the 2s. No meaningful game action for either guy last fall, so I’ll be watching this spot the most leading up to the season. Very interested to see who can play well in the spring game, and if this is a spot we target in the portal in the coming weeks.

Jordan Allen has worked with the safeties all spring, so I’m assuming that’s a permanent position change and that he’ll be the strong safety this fall. Maybe a little separation between Bruner IV and Haskett, as Bruner IV took a majority of the free safety snaps with the 1s the past few weeks. Both continue to earn chances to make an impact, as that’s two more young Spiders with big roles this fall.

I like what CJ Fraser has done at boundary corner these practices. Very physical outside, good size (6′), and could really bring some stability to a position that just hasn’t found its footing in a while. Fraser earned CAA Defensive Player of the Week when called upon against Elon last year, so I’m hopeful his game experience puts the Spiders in a much better spot from the start.

Nickel will be our extra DB package, as I continue to see this used while seeing no 4-2-5 looks. That leads to both D’Angelo Stocker and Kyree Richardson getting plenty of reps. Hard to bet against the experience of Stocker, but I could absolute see Richardson as the starting field corner against Lehigh. Depth isn’t our friend, as these three were the only active corners this past week, but I like how they’ve done so far.

Spring Game

Not sure how the Spring Game will be structured, as this is one of the smallest active rosters we will have in a while. We’ve got 62 guys right now (true freshmen won’t arrive until August), with roughly seven rehabbing from injuries and five pure specialists. That leaves about 50 active for the game, with some holes in key areas.

Four defensive linemen are out, leaving the Spiders with six right now. Once projected starters like Hoilette and Baldwin return (along with four incoming freshmen) this will be one of our deepest groups, but for now it’s incredibly thin. Not easy to manage a spring game with that few linemen. Add in only three active running backs (as of last week), and three active cornerbacks, and we’re just in a strange spot to play a full spring game.

With that, I wouldn’t put too much stock in how this goes. Likely a few guys playing out of position, or in a spot they have very little experience, so while the day is overall fun I don’t recommend coming to any definite conclusions.

Next Post

Quick Spring Game recap, along with what the portal may have for us this summer. Hoping Huesman sheds some light on our plans moving forward, as I’d imagine he’s still looking for 4-5 additions.