Sun Belt Preseason Notes: “Preseason practice is underway”

Florida Atlantic: FAU's second preseason practice Thursday morning was even more grueling and intense than the first practice the day before, leaving players gasping for air and pleading for water according to the Sun-Sentinel.

The team is yet to put on full pads, but FAU's coaches and team leaders are already seeing overall squad improvement.

Quarterback Melvin German is now on campus and practicing with the team. He is getting reps this preseason in what many see as a starting position for him.

Troy: After finishing a 3-9 season last year, Troy took the field on Thursday to open fall practice in they hope to be a bounce back this fall.

“We’re trying to work back to where we think Troy belongs and that’s in a championship race and in a bowl,” head coach Larry Blakeney said. “We have evolved as a team of leaders and have more guys trying to assurt themselves as leaders.”

South Alabama: The two-hour workout in helmets and shorts turned out to be a good day for South Alabama Jaguars.

Head coach Joey Jones said they are trying to build more toughness in their players so his team can be a tough team headed into their first year as a FBS team.

"It's all about the process of getting better," Jones said. South Alabama returns to practice today and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. They will take Sunday off and return to practice at 7:15 a.m. Monday. The Jags will add shells on Saturday and Monday, then go to full pads on Tuesday.

Sophomore running back J.J. Keels is no longer on the South Alabama roster. He played in seven games last season, including two starts, and rushed for 142 yards on 37 carries. 

UL-Lafayette - The Ragin’ Cajuns football team returned to the football practice field on Thursday for the first preseason practice of the year.

With the team limited to just partial uniforms until Monday (Aug. 6), second year head coach Mark Hudspeth elected to split the team into two groups for the day.  The majority of the veterans, those listed as either starters or key reserves, were on Cajun Field starting at 8:55 a.m. for a practice that ran almost 150 minutes.  At the same time, the rest of the team, including all of the newcomers, were in the weight room for a work out with strength coach Rusty Witt.

“The morning session with the veterans was a little sloppy,” Hudspeth said.  “I know they worked hard all summer, but they were sucking wind at times.  We’ll work through this and get everybody in game shape.

“I am more concerned with our ability to take care of the football.  That will be a point of emphasis this year.  To be successful, we can’t turn the ball over because we struggled to win when we turned the ball over last year.”