Albany State begins football practice

ALBANY — One by one, Albany State University football players trotted onto the practice field for the start of preseason workouts Monday morning.

The heavy morning dew hadn’t completely disappeared before the Rams were hard at work.

Albany State plays its first game at Valdosta State in less than a month, and every day of practice is precious. The first day couldn’t have come soon enough for defensive lineman Grover Stewart, who said losing in last year’s SIAC conference championship game to Miles College left him sour.

“It left a bitter taste in my mouth,” Stewart said. “It feels great to finally get back out here. I’m ready for the season to start. Coach likes to see everybody run and on defense, all we do is run, so everybody was running today.”

The Rams, who finished last season at 6-4, have little time to waste. Three of Albany State’s first four opponents made the NCAA Division II football playoffs last season: Valdosta State, Tuskegee and West Georgia. But the good news is the Rams have a wealth of talent returning.

And by early September, the Rams believe they’ll be ready for a 10-game regular-season.

SIAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Jarvis Small returns at running back after rushing for 1,037 yards and a conference-leading 11 touchdowns last season.

In addition, a pair of preseason all-conference first team linemen — Javoris Wilburn and Tedrick Cofield — return up front.

Second-team quarterback Caleb Edmond, who passed for 1,761 yards and seven touchdowns last season, returns, as well as one of his favorite targets in wide receiver Quadrey Simmons.

Edmond has the upper hand at quarterback after starting 10 games last season. However, he will have to fend off stiff competition from former Monroe standout Charles Stafford. Albany State coaches have said the quarterback competition is open.

“I love competition,” Edmond said. “It brings out the best in everybody.”

Stewart anchors the defensive front. The Rams have two other all-conference returnees: first-teamer Nick Scott and second-team defensive back Zavondric Shingleton.

There are some key positions to fill, but the Rams expect to be in good shape before traveling to Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Sept. 3 to face Valdosta State.

Land said last season did not end positively in the 20-7 loss to Miles in the championship game after Albany State defeated the Golden Bears 29-16 during the regular season, rallying from a 14-0 first-half deficit.

“It’s been teaching for us,” Land said. “It’s an opportunity for us to go back and take the things that we did right and build from them.”

Something the Rams expect to do over the next three weeks.