Players that helped themselves in spring ball
There were a lot of questions to be answered going into the spring football season and the spring game. Some players lived up to expectations for open positions and some simply came out of nowhere.
“Performances by individuals in the spring game will go a long way in defining roles as we head into the summer,” said head coach Matt Wells before the spring game.
Here is a list of players who helped their cause for the 2014-15 campaign the most during the spring season.
Devin Centers, safety
Centers moved from corner to safety for spring ball and did not disappoint. He had been playing solid for weeks and continually moving up in the eyes of the coaches for weeks before the climax of the spring game.
He had an interception and a fumble return in the spring game, and chased down junior running back Rashad Hall after 78 yards to prevent a touchdown. Centers forced his way into the starting lineup on defense over the last few weeks and isn’t likely to give up that position.
Bill Vauvau and Taani Fisilau, guards
These two will likely be the new guards for the Aggies in 2014. Going into spring, four offensive line positions were up for grabs with all of the starting five except for Kevin Whimpey graduating.
The guard positions at least appear to be solidified, as was apparent to anybody watching the spring game with long run after long run being broken off up the middle by Hall and Kennedy Williams. Both Vauvau and Fisilau have been a talking point of Wells in the last few scrimmages and are in great positions to be the starters against Tennessee in week one.
Kennedy Williams, running back
Like his older brother Kerwynn, Kennedy Williams faces the question mark of his size. Williams is 5-foot-8, but is explosive and agile. Williams has a knack for big plays and has all the speed he needs.
But what really stood out about Williams over the spring is how he never seems to go down easily. He proved he can have an important role in the offense.
Rashad Hall also had a great spring and ran for 124 yards in the spring game. Joe Hill will return from injury in the fall, but for now Williams is in as good of a position going into the summer as he could have hoped.
Damoun Patterson, wide receiver
Patterson is a true freshman who three weeks ago was running with the third squad sparingly. By the time the spring game rolled around, Patterson was taking reps with the first squad.
In the last scrimmage before the spring game, Patterson had a touchdown in which he broke two tackles. He had three receptions in the spring game, including a 50-yarder. He is big for a freshman at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, has soft hands and has all of the makings to be a good receiver in the future.
Jarom Baldomero, linebacker
Baldomero had eight total tackles in his first season with the Aggies as a sophomore junior college transfer last season. In the spring game, Baldomero led the team with eight tackles.
Baldomero really didn’t see much playing time last year, but he could be the first linebacker off the bench for the 2014 season, much like Nick Vigil was last season. Baldomero is big at 230 pounds and played well enough to put himself in a great situation to build off of in fall camp.
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