Young G-Men bring energy to Tigers’ workout
Photos courtesy of Grambling State
Grambling State sophomore running back Keilon Elder goes through drills during practice Monday, while the Tigers coaching staff looks on. The G-Men continue to prepare for their season opener against Tennessee State on Sept. 5.
GRAMBLING — The Grambling State University football team is predominantly made up of redshirt sophomores and freshmen.
But younger players often bring an abundance of energy, and that “fresh juice” flashed like lightning through the air and across the field of Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium Monday afternoon as the Tigers practiced in helmets in shorts.
At one point multiple good plays made by Grambling’s young secondary during a twominute drill sent the defensive sideline into dance-mode and the chant of “defense” lofted through the air as strong as the passes being thrown by the Tigers’ quarterbacking corps.
“It was a good day,” said GSU head coach Broderick Fobbs after the practice ended. “They moved around really fast and competed like they should in the two-minute drill. It’s the first day we’ve done (the two-minute drill) and we saw some good things. We still have to get in and out of the huddle a little faster and still need to get plays in and called a little quicker. But for the most part, we’re on our way.”
Fobbs also noticed the energy from his young defensive backs, adding that repetition for them and his G-Men as a whole is what will make them better by the time the season kicks off on Sept. 5 against Tennessee State in the Black College Hall of Fame Game to be held at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
“They brought it, which is good,” Fobbs said of the efforts from his defensive backs during Monday’s practice. “We feel really good about our secondary, as we do a lot of parts of our team. We just have to continue to play with consistency. We can do it, but it’s just doing it over and over again the right way. That’s really what it’s about and can make us a good team.”
Grambling’s offense also turned in some big plays of their own, with Fobbs calling the practice and tie between the sides but a win for the team overall.
“We didn’t have pads on, so it’s hard to judge (about whether the offense or defense won the day),” Fobbs said. “You really can’t tell without pads because a lot of blocks, or ‘could have been blocks,’ aren’t made because the pads aren’t on and we really can’t hit. But the guys were going to the right place on both sides of the ball. We’ll get there. We’ll be there. We’ve got a couple of weeks, so we’ll get there.”
The Tigers practiced in shells Tuesday at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium.
