Preseason Camp Report - Aug. 14
A day after the first scrimmage of fall camp, head coach Chris Ault had mostly positive things to say after reviewing the film from Thursday's 85-play scrimmage.
"There was some good contact and there were certainly things that we liked," Ault said. "As far as first scrimmages go, overall I think it was fine. There were some signs."
With a number of young players emerging or expecting to emerge in the depth chart, the scrimmage was a bit of an eye-opening experience. For all of the newcomers and many of the redshirt freshman, the speed of live action is the toughest thing to adjust to.
"That's one thing that stands out -- the guys who handle that transition and the other guys who need to adjust to it," Ault said. "And then the interesting part will be watching the improvment between now and the next scrimmage."
The team will scrimmage a couple more times in camp but Thursday's was the only one open to the public.
CAMPER OF THE DAY: Junior Vai Taua.
Taua gets the nod today, not as much as a running back but in his new role as a punt returner. Taua is one of four top candidates to take over the punt returning duties this year.
"I've made it very clear that we are going to put our best people on the field on special teams," Ault said. "And Vai is one of those guys who we are taking a good, hard look at."
Taua last returned punts in high school in Lompoc, Calif. But the junior possesses a natural athleticism that is helping his new role.
"Vai has great hands and we've seen that with his pass-catching ability out of the backfield," running backs coach Jim Mastro said. "I think he can be a difference maker back there returning punts."
Taua is not the only starter or projected starter in the mix. Receiver Brandon Wimblerly is in the running, along with fellow redshirt freshman Thaddeus Brown and true freshman L.J. Washington.
