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Saluki Football opens 2019 training camp Four more players added to MVFC Preseason Team

Posted August 02, 2019 1:00 am

BY tom weber saluki media relations

CARBONDALE - The Saluki Football team opened its 2019 training camp on Wednesday morning as the countdown to the season-opener versus SEMO on Aug. 29 is now less than a month away.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference announced the rest of its Preseason All-Conference Team, as well. Joining SIU running back D.J. Davis on the team was preseason All-America safety Jeremy Chinn (led 2018 team with three interceptions), defensive end Anthony Knighton (led team with 8.5 sacks) and return specialist Je'Quan Burton (recorded 100-yard kickoff return vs. North Dakota State). Linebacker Bryce Notree (led team with 78 tackles) received honorable mention.

Head coach Nick Hill took questions from the media after the morning session.

<h3 class="breakHead">On the first practice</h3>

"I'm excited about getting in there and watching that film and grading it and them continuing to get better. Like I told the team, they're going to make mistakes, but on Day 4 and 5 they shouldn't make the same mistakes. You enjoy getting back out there and practicing with your guys, making the adjustments, watching players improve. You gotta enjoy the tough, hot days and the practices. You only get so many opportunities to go out there in a game."

<h3 class="breakHead">On if they're preparing for the SEMO opener yet</h3>

"We're focused on building our team and that's it - what pieces come together, depth, your schemes, installing, getting your team prepared. We'll start to transition to (SEMO) with about a week and a half to go before we play them."

<h3 class="breakHead">On QB Stone's Labanowitz</h3>

"I'm excited for Stone, you can see his confidence. He's a competitor. His name needs to be thrown around with the (starting) quarterback group. Stone has played more college football, was the starter and Player of the Year in a good junior college conference. He's stronger and his arm has a little more pop. We challenged him to change his body a little bit in the weight room, especially coming off the Spring with back surgery. It's going to take some time, but he's fully healthy and was doing well all summer. He was voted to our leadership council, which says a lot, his teammates love him. I'm excited for his camp and he'll get a lot of reps to prove it."

<h3 class="breakHead">On the time frame for deciding a starting quarterback</h3>

"We'll all know who is going to be that guy. I can't give you the amount of practices, I think it becomes a gut feel. I've been through it before as an assistant with Mark Iannotti, Ryan West and (Sam) Straub. After a little while, we'll know who should be leading this team."

<h3 class="breakHead">On how the new staff members are blending in</h3>

"I definitely feel confident in the ability for us to work together and the confidence I have in them. I'm excited watching their personalities take over, especially on the defensive side of the ball, just watching them grow as coaches and watching us grow together, too. They understand the vision that I have. I trust Coach (Jason) Petrino. I think he has great ideas. Everything he does with installs is sound. I really like the way he adapts to his personnel. I'm still going to be on the offensive side of the ball and calling plays. I look forward those practices when we go off the script and I have to call plays against him. He'll make me better."

<h3 class="breakHead">On if Nic Baker's height is an issue </h3>

"It's not. The No. 1 pick in the NFL is 5-8, 5-9. I think if you ask (shorter quarterbacks), early in their life they learn how to adjust and play quarterback. They don't know how to play at 6-3. They don't know any different. All of his high school offensive linemen were taller than him, too. Same thing with Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray. We don't talk about Nic's height. We know what he does well, we know what he doesn't do well, like any other quarterback. You might have a 6-5 quarterback who doesn't move well outside the pocket and you understand his strengths and weaknesses. We understand (Nic's) and it's our job to put him in good positions."

<h3 class="breakHead">On his four captains and their leadership</h3>

"With leadership, No. 1, they have to be able to take people with them. They have to have respect. It's not about being liked and the most popular guy. I think all four (of this year's captains) have respect from all their teammates and all their coaches. They have to be able to hold people to a standard that we expect. Sometimes, that's the toughest thing about leadership, especially with 18-to-22-year olds. You may have to hold your buddy accountable. If you're willing to step outside your comfort zone and do that, because you know that's what's best, those four guys have been entrusted to do that, along with our leadership council of 18 guys."

Quarterback Stone Labanowitz also fielded questions from the media.

<h3 class="breakHead">On the importance of each practice</h3>

"Just to know in the back of your head that there's only 15 of these to make count, especially in my situation being in a quarterback battle, do not take a day for granted. Guys can have a good day and you can have a bad day and there's only 15. Time is of the essence."

<h3 class="breakHead">On the team's mentality heading into camp</h3>

"You have a 2-9 season - no one wants to go on Twitter and go rah-rah - there's no point. What (Coach Hill) wants us to do is, let's not be on social media, let's not talk junk to other players. Let's put our head down and grind as hard as we can. That's exactly what we did this summer and that's what we're going to continue to do. Come out Week 1, we'll pop out of the bunker and fully ambush."

<h3 class="breakHead">On the quarterback battle</h3>

"(Going from) two fifth-year seniors to three guys with no experience is a big deal. Our relationship is getting better by the day. Me and Nic (Baker) have an awesome relationship, I have an awesome relationship with Karé Lyles. I can't speak enough about our relationship. Coach (Hill) said the coaches haven't really seen the players take to one of us yet, which is a good thing. They're waiting for somebody to rally around, for somebody to do something or start playing a certain way. We're good with that. The guys in the locker room are waiting for one of us to emerge."

<h3 class="breakHead">On the team's chemistry</h3>

"You talk to seniors and older guys on this roster, the relationship we have here is different. Coach said the program we did with the Marines was the best team-building project he's ever been a part of in his coaching career, which was huge to hear, and I think we really gelled from that. We've gone to Coach Hill's lake, the team dinners three times a week are serious, he emphasizes sitting next to kids you don't usually talk to. This team is close. For Blake Parzych to be a captain is a huge deal for this team. That's a guy that everybody in the locker room absolutely loves and wants to see succeed. I think we're ready. (Strength coach) Meade (Smith) put us to work this summer. it was a brutal summer, but halfway through we went 10 toes in."

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