Moments after receiving some words of inspiration from Maj. Gen. Mark A. Milley on Monday morning, the Syracuse football team began the first of six days of practice at nearby Fort Drum.
The Orange players will practice on Sigh Field on the army reservation, will scrimmage in front of a large contingent of soldiers on Saturday and sleep in the barracks throughout the week.
The team presented Milley with a No. 10 Orange jersey with a “Mountain” nameplate on the back to represent the reservation's 10th Mountain Division, the Daily Courier-Observer reported.
“This is a different year,” Milley told the team. “You’ve got to worry about the living. You’ve got to worry about today, tomorrow and the next day.”
Senior WR Alec Lemon, a 2011 All-Big East performer, was limited by a minor injury, the Syracuse Post-Standard reported. The injury provided wideouts Jarrod West and Adrian Flemming with added reps with the first-team. The two underclassmen combined for just 16 receptions in 2011. Flemming had none.
Other standouts during Monday's practice, according to the Post-Standard included: junior CB Keon Lyn, freshmen WRs Alvin Cornelius and Ben Lewis and freshman TE Ron Thompson. Lyn had two interceptions during the practice. Sophomore DBs Ritchy Desir and Durell Eskridge split reps at strong safety, while Shamarko Thomas sat out with a minor injury.
Floyd now the backup at USF: South Florida redshirt freshman Matt Floyd has moved ahead of junior Bobby Eveld as the backup quarterback behind B.J. Daniels, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
In 2010, Floyd threw for 2,277 yards and 15 TDs in his senior season at Milton High School (Fla.) outside Pensacola. Floyd who had offers from Louisville, Central Florida, Southern Miss and Iowa State was ranked the No. 90 in the Class of 2011 by Rivals.com.
Eveld, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound junior, has thrown for 808 yards, 3 TDs and 7 INTs during his USF career. Eveld went 20 of 35 for 210 yards and a touchdown last year vs. Louisville.
USF coach Skip Holtz plans on making several changes to the lineup before releasing the depth chart on Wednesday, according to the Times.
Pitt RB Bennett patterns game after Cowboys RB Jones: Since spring drills, Pittsburgh RB Isaac Bennett has ripped off five runs of 50 or more yards in practice. Bennett shares the same high school alma mater as Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones. Both players attended Booker T. Washington in Tulsa, Okla.
“I try to pattern my game after his,” Bennett said. “I love his speed, power and elusiveness. I’m working on the elusive part.”
Pitt opened its Tuesday practice with a field-goal period. Senior placekicker Kevin Harper hit all seven of his attempts, including a 47-yarder and 51-yarder. Harper’s strong leg should be a major scoring weapon for Pitt this year. In 2011, he led the Panthers with 95 points and his 52-yard field goal against Cincinnati tied the Heinz Field record set by former Steelers kicker Jeff Reed.
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