As Stetson coach Roger Hughes prepares to open spring practice for the fifth time, there is a noticeable difference in the look of his football team.
 
The Hatters will open spring drills on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. at the Athletic Training Center. Practices are scheduled to be held three days per week through the spring game, which is set for Saturday, April 22, at 6 p.m. at Spec Martin Stadium. All practices are open to the public.
 
The most noticeable difference in the Hatters this spring is what's missing. For the first time since the program was revived, players from the initial class of signees are no longer on the squad.
 
"It is a little like being a parent," Hughes said. "You look up and, all of a sudden, your first born is gone. Now we have to turn to our second born."
 
The loss of players like three-time All-American Donald Payne, All-Conference performers Davion Belk and Patrick Fogarty as well as stalwarts Chris Atkins, Glenn Adesoji, David Lazear, Cole Mazza, Mike Yonker and others have left gaping holes in the Stetson lineup on both sides of the ball.
 
While those losses are extensive, for the returning players who have been waiting behind them, this spring is their opportunity to shine.
 
"Those were guys who had been with us since the initiation of the program," Hughes said. "When you have a bunch of older guys like that, sometimes the younger guys just sit back and let them do everything. Now it is time for those younger guys. They have to know they have an opportunity to move up and, if they don't get it done, there is no one else to do it."
 
While there are multiple areas of concern, with just 15 days of practice, and three scrimmages, there are some areas that will be the focus of more attention this spring. Hughes said the first priority is in improving the running game.
 
"We have to be able to run the ball better," Hughes said. "As we looked at film and analyzed what we were doing, we realized that our line and backs were not as coordinated with their timing as they need to be. We have to be a lot more physical at level one, meaning we have to make sure we are blocking the defensive line first, before we can progress on to the linebackers."
 
Improving that coordination will start with the offensive line which, as has been the case virtually every year, will be a work in progress. Only junior guard Jim McCammon returns with extensive starting experience, and he will be splitting time between guard and center this spring. Sophomore Josh Miller also returns after starting the final four games last year.
 
Four-year starters Fogarty and Matt Wawrzyniak have graduated and sophomore Andrew Rogalski will sit out the spring following off-season shoulder surgery. Others with experience – including center Garrett Mullin, guard Cody Sumner and tackle Dom Coluccio – all decided to leave the program.
 
"It is very frustrating," Hughes said of the constant turnover in the offensive line. "There are three guys who are playing at scholarship schools who should be playing here for us. The reason is that the cost of going to school here is prohibitive. Once we go to scholarships, it will be much easier.
 
"Our biggest drawback right now is our ability to keep kids in school. Our admissions office is doing all that it can to help us be competitive, but with the policies written the way they are, we are behind the eight ball. This position, for whatever reason, is where that has manifested itself."
 
With the losses, the Hatters will have young players filling the holes, with more help on the way from the latest signing class – which included 10 offensive linemen. The youngsters, who all redshirted last year, include Nick Kelly, Jacob Sullivan, Jordan Halfinds, Patrick Farley, JuWuan Livingston, Nick Plunkett and Dawson Stephens, who is making the switch from defensive line to the offensive side.
 
While the Hatters need to get a lot of work done in the spring, how much they will be able to do will be determined by the stamina of those nine offensive linemen.
 
"A lot of the time, our practices will be based on how well the offensive line is holding up," Hughes said. "We may have to take more breaks in the scrimmages, and we will rotate them around. We'll just have to see how it goes."
 
The other half of the equation in improving the run game is at the running back and fullback positions. Mazza and Yonker were consistent performers over the last four years, and replacing them will be a challenge.
 
"Cole handled most of the things prior to now, but he is no longer there," Hughes said. "Pass protection is where he was head and shoulders above the other guys. Understanding the execution of the blocks is where we have to get better."
 
Junior Arkee Brown has been the primary understudy for the last two seasons and will get the first chance to step up. He will get competition from sophomore Bryce Blackmon and his twin brother, redshirt freshman Chase Blackmon.
 
There are also two candidates to replace Yonker at fullback – starting with sophomore Grant Hodges, who arrived on campus last August as an offensive lineman. He made the switch first to defensive line before, early in the season, moving back to offense as a fullback.
 
"Grant gives us a big fullback, and he is working on his hands and his ball skills," Hughes said. "If those things improve to where he can catch a flat pass or a check down, then he will have a chance. Without his pads on, he is pretty to watch running around. He has really embraced the position. I think he has a chance to be one of those big, physical, fullbacks – a true fullback in every sense of the word."
 
The other primary candidate at fullback is sophomore Matt Taft, who saw limited playing time last year. That duo, along with the three running backs, will get plenty of work in the spring because they are the only backs on the roster. The signing class also included just one back, but Hughes and his staff are still recruiting others who could join the current class of 39 signees.
 
"The two places where we didn't get the number of players we wanted was at tight end and running back, but we are still recruiting some of those kinds of guys," Hughes said. "Stetson football is very much in demand. We could carry a roster of 150 if they would let us."
 
For spring practice, the Hatters have 74 players on the roster, with three players – quarterback Gaven DeFilippo, defensive back Dre Long and Rogalski – all out of action while recovering from off-season surgery.
 
That leaves 71 players with 15 golden opportunities to make a lasting impression on the coaches – an impression that could carry them all the way to September.

Complete Spring Practice Schedule

Day	Date	Time
Tuesday	March 21	8:30 pm
Friday	March 24	3:30 pm
Saturday	March 25	2 pm
Tuesday	March 28	8:30 pm
Friday	March 31	3:30 pm
Saturday	April 1	2 pm
Tuesday	April 4	8:30 pm
Friday	April 7	3:30 pm
Saturday	April 8	2 pm (scrimmage)
Tuesday	April 11	8:30 am
Friday	April 14	3:30 pm
Saturday	April 15	2 pm (scrimmage)
Tuesday	April 18	8:30 pm
Thursday	April 20	8:30 pm
Saturday	April 22	6 pm (Spring Game)

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.