Spring football in a sense is like re-trying out for the team.
\nMost players have high hopes about gaining a starting spot on the field or at least some extra playing time.
\nAt Texas A&M University-Kingsville this is the part of the year when coaches and staff try to evaluate their roster and talent and try to find out what they are lacking; whether it\u2019s a weak position, a graduating player needing to be replaced or just overall depth on the roster.
\nIt\u2019s also the time when coaches actively seek recruits, while reviewing walk-ons.
\nAll of the hard work and preparation that players put in during the spring comes together when they put it on display during the spring Blue and Gold game.
\nOn Friday, April 19, the Javelina football team had its annual spring Blue and Gold game during which players had an opportunity to put on a show in semi-game fashion in front of an audience.
\nHead Coach Darren Wilkinson really embraces the opportunities and challenges that the spring brings to make his team better.
\n\u201cI thought the first two-thirds of the spring game were almost perfect in terms of what we like to do,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cThe final bit of the scrimmage was a little disappointing in how we turned the ball over way more on offense. The defense caused some of those, but some of them were just not good plays.
\n\u201cI think we\u2019ve really improved on both sides of the ball\u2026we\u2019ve brought in some new recruits and I\u2019m excited for this upcoming season.\u201d
\nStarting wide receiver Tyler Wilson knows about the grind all too well.
\nComing off of a solid 602-yard season off 45 catches, Wilson is looking to make an even bigger splash next year.
\n\u201cThose 5 a.m. workouts are no joke; the coaches really just want to see who wants it more, so I get it. It\u2019s better once we get to pad up and show out,\u201d Tyler Wilson said.
\nAthletic Trainer Janelle Olguin believes the team is improving rather fast.
\n\u201cThe fall could be ours; the offense and defense are both improving pretty fast. I didn\u2019t like the way they did the spring game though.
\n\u201cIt was more of a scrimmage than a game,\u201d Olguin said.
\nSenior starting defensive back Joshua Wilson is all too familiar with the spring training process.
\n\u201cI felt really good about this year\u2019s spring training.
\n\u201cI think that we have put a lot of players into the positions (offensive and defensively) they need to be at in order to be successful,\u201d Joshua Wilson said.
\n\u201cI also feel that this spring training allowed us players to create a new standard.
\n\u201cWe just want to win and be able to play for something special like a conference and national championship.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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