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2017 Training Camp Central

Kennesaw State Owls Football

By Kennesaw State Athletics

July 27^th, 2017

AUG. 12 (DAY 16) "CAMP FINALE"

With 16 practices in the books, the Kennesaw State football team closed its 2017 Training Camp with its second scrimmage Saturday morning at The Perch.

For the second consecutive Saturday, it was the defense that came away with bragging rights during a 101-play scrimmage. The offense was forced to punt on five of its first seven possessions, the other two ended with points – a 39-yard field goal from Justin Thompson and a 25-yarder from Jordan Genovese.

“The offense had a better week this overall, but today we just had too many self-inflicted wounds,” said head coach Brian Bohannon. “The first thing we have to do is not beat ourselves. We’re just not giving ourselves a chance on either side of the ball. Too many penalties, too many missed assignments, and too many drops at critical times. That’s where we have to improve.”

The offense’s second drive was thwarted by a sack from Anthony Gore, Jr., while Paris Bostick broke through for a sack to force a punt on the ensuing drive.

“We have two veteran linebackers that are playing hard in Izzy (Sam) and Gore, and their backups in (Brenton) Wimberly and Chris Byrd are really playing well," said Bohannon. "Up front, "Big Z" (Auzoyah Alufohai) is hard to block – he’s really playing well and I’m excited about what’s to come from him.”

Consecutive drives following Thompson’s field goal ended in punts, but the offense looked to be in business with Tommy Bryant under center on the seventh possession.

Bryant hit Gordon Gray for 21 yards and a rush by Brandon Simmons converted a key third down on the ground. A pair of defensive penalties put the offense in a goal-to-go situation only to see Chris Byrd make back-to-back stops behind the line of scrimmage and force Genovese’s 25-yard field goal.

Gore recovered a fumble on the next possession to halt another drive.

It wasn’t until late that the offense finally found pay dirt, reaching the end zone on the scrimmage’s final two possessions. Trey Chivers had a bruising run to get the offense across midfield, followed by a defensive penalty. Bryant capped the drive with a picture-perfect 23-yard strike over the middle to Dorian Miles.

Rookie running backs Jaxton Carson and Adeolu Adeleke had big runs to get the final drive rolling. Caleb O’Neal connected with Anatvius Grier to convert a third-and-short and Carson finished off the drive with a 3-yard TD run.

With "training camp" practices complete, the Owls will move out of their camp hotel Saturday afternoon, with film review and meetings set for Saturday night. The team has Sunday off, begins classes on Monday.

The 2017 season opener on Thursday, August 31 at Samford is just 19 days.

training camp podcast finale

Aug. 11 (day 15) "moving day"

The student-athletes from the Kennesaw State football team provided some muscle Friday afternoon to assist freshmen and their families moving in on campus village. The Owls spent two hours on campus moving items from cars to students’ dorms to provide a helping hand.

The Black and Gold also took part in practice 15 of 16 in the morning, marking the final day at The Perch for their 2017 Training Camp before Saturday’s final camp scrimmage on Field 7. The 15-period haul provided an up-tempo, energetic day that focus on speed with 1-minute drills, two-minute drills, special teams and individual group work in a fast-paced, grind-it-out style. KSU ended the day working on the “Miracle Play” and a fun activity with chosen players picked to field punts.

Kennesaw State sits just 20 days away from kickoff at Seibert Stadium against No. 19 Samford in Birmingham, Ala at 7 p.m. (ET).

Move-in video recap

Aug. 10 (Day 14)"Getting in the groove"

Twenty-one days remain until Kennesaw State takes on No. 19 Samford at Seibert Stadium in Birmingham, Ala., as the Owls wrapped up practice number 14 of their 2017 Training Camp at The Perch Thursday morning.

“We have a lot of guys out here fighting real hard right now as the camp grind is setting in,” said junior WR Xavier Harper. “We are starting to mold and get in that groove offensively and defensively, and we are excited to start the season. Samford will be a good test for us to go on the road and see where we are at.”

The Black and Gold once again avoided rain under cloudy, cooler weather taking on a 19-period haul just two days out from their final camp scrimmage. The Owls came out today with an intense “Owl Time” opening period before working on individual group 1-on-1 work, team offense and defense, punt drills, and 11-on-11 work.

“It’s more of a focus thing right now as camp winds down. We need to fight through the adversity and continue to focus on the playbook and get ready for the season,” said senior LB Izzy Sam. “As a defense, we are more of a player-led team now and the older guys are picking up the younger players which is positive to see.”

Kennesaw State returns to the practice field for the 15th time during camp before wrapping up with a second team scrimmage Saturday morning. The Owls begin classes on Monday morning as the team begins preparations for the Bulldogs.

Aug. 9 (Day 13) “Making Plays“

The Kennesaw State football team avoided surrounding rain clouds Wednesday morning, completing practice 13 of 16 with an energetic, 23-period haul at The Perch.

Junior DB Terrance Bulock, Jr., highlighted practice during the Owls’ 11-on-11 periods with an incredible one-handed interception. KSU worked on intense work for several periods implementing game-like situations. Kennesaw State also focused on individual group work, offense and defense, kickoffs and kickoff returns as the week begins to wind down.

The Black and Gold returns to the practice field Thursday morning as the final two hauls at The Perch draws near before the Owls’ final 2017 Training Camp scrimmage on Field 7 kicks off Saturday morning. The team breaks camp Saturday night, with classes set to begin on Monday.

AUG. 8 (DAY 12) "THE HOME STRETCH"

The Kennesaw State football team did its best to dodge the morning rain, completing a spirited, two-hour practice under dry and cooler conditions Tuesday at The Perch.

Tuesday’s practice was capped with a pair of 11-on-11 periods that focused on third-down situations and two-minute drill work. Coming off a Saturday scrimmage where the defense dominated, head coach Brian Bohannon went to work with the offense to make some adjustments.

“Offensively, there wasn’t a lot Saturday, but we’ve made some strides and moved some things around up front,” said Bohannon. “Matt Frank and CJ Collins have been working at center, and we’re moving things around to try and get the best five.”

With those tweaks, the offense did enjoy a better day Tuesday with a number of explosive plays during the 11-on-11 periods. The biggest being a 65-yard touchdown strike from Chandler Burks to Xavier Harper.

The two-minute drill saw redshirt freshman QB Tommy Bryant connect on a pair of long completions to Erza Naylor (30 yards) and Gordan Gray (21 yards) to set up a made field goal by Justin Thompson.

“Yesterday was not a great practice, but I thought today was better,” said Bohannon. “We had had good energy today, but the grind is on.”

The Owls are back on the practice field Wednesday morning as 2017 Training Camp hits the home stretch. Including Wednesday, just three more practices remaining before Saturday morning’s scrimmage. The team breaks camp Saturday night, with classes set to begin on Monday.

Aug. 7 (day 11) “Holding Each Other Accountable”

A 23-period haul kicked off the final week of the 2017 Training Camp for the Owls Monday morning under a comfortable mid-70’s and partly cloudy conditions. Kennesaw State wraps up camp with five practices through Friday morning and its second team scrimmage Saturday morning.

The Black and Gold continued to take things a day at a time with a two-hour practice at The Perch with their first game set to take place on August 31 on the road at Samford (7 p.m. ET). The Owls’ defense entered the day coming off a strong showing in their first team scrimmage and continued to work on installing their focus towards the Bulldogs.

“We have a bunch of leaders that have been here for a while now and have worked their tails off,” said defensive coordinator Brian Newberry. “The guys are invested and have gone from a coach-led team to a player-led team. Some of the older guys that have sacrificed a lot and paid the price are now holding the younger guys accountable.”

KSU also worked on goal line “Owl Time”, punt coverage, punt return, team 11-on-11 and individual work in full pads to jumpstart the new week.

“It’s hard to bring a strong mentality to camp each and every day, and I try and bring a lot of leadership and mental help to the younger guys,” said senior DL Tonarius Portress. “You can’t ever be satisfied and you have to come out with the mindset of winning the day, and get better with every rep.”

The Owls continue camp Tuesday morning at 10 a.m., marking practice 12 of 16 before school begins on August 14.

The final word podcast

Aug. 5 (Day 10)"scrimmage #1"

The Kennesaw State offense scored a pair of late touchdowns, but it was the defense that controlled much of the day as the Owls scrimmaged for the first time during 2017 Training Camp.

The 95-play scrimmage on Saturday morning under sunny and humid conditions at The Perch saw the defense force 12 punts and cause two turnovers – an Akebren Ralls interception and a Kyle Arrasmith fumble recovery.

“The defense came out flying around with some energy,” said head coach Brian Bohannon. “I thought they did some really good things. When you look at the scrimmage as a whole, it was dominated by them.”

After the Owls offense went three-and-out on their first possession of the day, Chandler Burks hit Jordan Walker for 26 yards to kick-start the second possession. But Anthony Gore, Jr. set the tone with a big tackle for loss to force third-and-long, and Ralls' interception stopped the drive.

“Defensively we had a good week,” said Ralls, a junior defensive back. “Each day, the coaches tell us to go out there and treat every rep like it’s a championship rep, and I feel like most days we did that. Today’s scrimmage we got after them (the offense) and we were locked-in mentally, we read our keys and everyone did their job.”

The offense finally cracked the scoreboard on its eighth possession as Jordan Genovese booted a 21-yard field goal. The score was setup thanks to a 47-yard pass over the middle from Daniel David to Gordon Gray.

That duo connected again late in the scrimmage for the Owls’ first touchdown as David improvised on a busted play to hit a streaking Gray down the left sideline for a 67-yard touchdown.

“Offensively, we just didn’t come out and take care of business,” said junior RB Darnell Holland. “We just weren’t mentally sharp, nor focused on the tasks we had today. I’m disappointed, but I feel it’s days like today that we can grow and learn from.”

Burks capped the scoring two possessions later as he scampered in from 10 yards out as the scrimmage wound down. Burks hit TJ Reed for a gain of 27 yards and a rush by Trey Chivers put the Owls in first-and-goal.

“Defensively, we just had a lot of guys playing with energy and doing some really good things,” said Bohannon. “Brenton Wimberly, one of our linebackers, did some really good things.”

The Owls will break this afternoon for lunch and return to meetings Saturday night to break down the scrimmage. Sunday is scheduled as the team’s first off-day during Training Camp. The 2017 season begins in 26 days – Thursday, Aug. 31 at Samford.

Highlights

Post-Scrimmage Interviews

scrimmage #1 photos

By Kyle Hess

Aug. 4 (Day 9) "growing together"

The Kennesaw State Football team pushed into its second week with a Friday morning practice that focused on special teams and individual work.

A day before the Owls’ first team scrimmage, head coach Brian Bohannon and the team took on an 18-period haul at The Perch with their focus turning to Saturday morning.

“We like to call ourselves the ‘OG’ since we’re (upperclassmen) the first class and a bunch of us are still here,” said junior QB Chandler Burks. “That shows we have a bunch of leadership, a bunch of people that know the program, and play a lot of ball for us which is very positive. We were able to go to from a coach-led team to a player-led team and we can see that happening throughout camp.”

The Black and Gold worked heavily on punt coverage, punt returns, kickoffs, kickoff returns and individual special team drills to put the finishing touches on a nine-day journey before the stripe shirts come out in The Nest.

The Owls will hold their first scrimmage on Field 7 –the lone grass practice facility on campus—just outside of The Perch on a 70-yard enclosed grass field, with kickoff scheduled for 9:45 a.m.

Mic'd up!

the final word podcast - qb chandler burks

@CrushSportsTalk with coach bohannon

@CRUSHSPORTSTALK with junior db taylor henkle

Aug. 3 (Day 8) "Halfway"

The eighth of 16 practices at The Perch came Thursday morning as part of the Owls’ 2017 Training Camp, marking the halfway point for the Black and Gold before school begins on August 14.

Exactly a week into camp, Kennesaw State’s grind continued with full pads for the fourth straight day as the team begins to shift its focus on the first scrimmage Saturday morning.

An upbeat, 18-period practice kicked off with a goal line “Owl Time” drill that set the tone for the day. KSU continued to implement the three phases of the game –offense, defense, and special teams—, while working with individual groups, 11-on-11 work and 1-on-1 pass rush drills.

The day ended with a fun drill that included punters kicking to lineman attempting to make fair catches. Those videos can be seen on the football’s official Instagram story - @kennesawstfb.

The team will hold another evening of weights, team and position meetings and a team dinner. The Black and Gold will be back at things Friday morning at 10 a.m.

AUG. 2 (DAY 7) "FIND A WAY"

Kennesaw State’s Training Camp grind continued Wednesday morning as the Owls worked through an up-tempo, two-hour practice at their practice facility on campus.

Wednesday’s practice marked the seventh of the 16 set for Training Camp. The team is focusing in on the first scrimmage, which is set for Saturday morning.

"We have collectively step up during camp and find a way to get better each and every day,” said head coach Brian Bohannon. “It's that time of the year to grind and we have to continue to find a way to get through it"

The 11-on-11 team periods provided some fireworks Wednesday morning with highlights both offensively and defensively:

· QB Chandler Burks hit RB Trey Chivers on a short pass and the running back turned it into an explosive, 62-yard gain up the left sideline.

· RB Kevin Ficklin broke loose on a pitch, and sprinted 70 yards up the right sideline for a score.

· RB Shaq Terry broke off a 35-yard run.

· DL Travis Bell showed great pursuit on a running play to make a TD-saving tackle

“Travis (Bell) has really been playing well in camp,” said sophomore DL Desmond Johnson, Jr. “He’s a big freshman, and he’s making some plays. I feel like he might be able to help us this year.”

After another night of film review and meetings on Wednesday, the Owls are back on the practice field Thursday morning at 10 a.m.

Day 7 Photos

Photos by Kyle Hess

Aug. 1 (day 6) "FIGHT THROUGH IT"

Training Camp rolled on Tuesday, and the Owls’ two-hour practice at The Perch had just about everything – big plays on offense, thumping hits on defense, and camp’s first scuffles.

In all, head coach Brian Bohannon was pleased with the effort from his 95-member squad as they continue to close in on the August 31 season-opener at Samford.

“It was our second day in pads and there were some skirmishes out there today,” said Bohannon. “But that’s good, it means that guys are competing. Camp has kind of set in with the soreness and the bumps and bruises. What I’m trying to see now is that guys that fight through that.”

The 23-period practice on Tuesday morning included drills and special teams work, and was highlighted by the 11-on-11 team period. Junior QB Chandler Burks was able to sneak free for a handful of long runs, while a pair of newcomers on defensive – redshirt freshman DB Adesola Abisoye and Georgia Tech transfer DB Dorian Walker came up with big stops.

“Things are going well and we’re climbing that mountain that Coach (Bohannon) talks about,” said sophomore DL Desmond Johnson, who is a preseason All-Big South selection. “Every day we’re just trying to get better and be 1-0 every day.”

The Owls are back on the practice field Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. for the seventh practice of 2017 Training Camp. Saturday is slated to be the team’s first scrimmage.

July 31 (Day 5) "Owl Time"

The Kennesaw State football team kicked off its second week of 2017 Training Camp on Monday morning, donning full pads for the first time. Monday’s first drill “Owl Time,” was an intense five-minute period with full contact and blocking between two players and a running back – also known as the “Oklahoma Drill.”

With full pads on, the hitting picked up and the intensity increased during an energetic morning at The Perch. The 23-period practice was an up-temp workout that included 11-on-11 full-contact period, offensive and defensive work, and individual group work.

The Black and Gold continues the day with lunch, weights, team and position meetings and dinner. The Owls sixth practice of Training Camp is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.

July 30 (Day 4) “Making It Count”

Following a team function Sunday morning, the Owls moved another day closer to kickoff after completing an 18-period practice at The Perch in the late parts of the afternoon. Kennesaw State is working towards its opening game at Samford on August 31 at 7 p.m. (ET).

The Black and Gold strapped on shoulder pads for the second straight day under hot conditions. The 90-minute haul included two-minute drills, individual group work, the three phases of the game –offense, defense, and special teams – and 11-on-11 work over the final five minutes of the day.

Head Coach Brian Bohannon spoke with Nathan McCreary for the latest edition of The Final Word. The two talked about consistency, making every practice count and how different things are in the third year compared to the first.

You can listen to the full podcast below.

July 28 (Day 2) “Becoming More of a Vocal Leader”

“I’m not really a vocal guy, but it’s been an adjustment to be that person. It’s something to look forward to this season.”

Those are the words of 6-foot-3 junior WR Justin Sumpter, who is a rising star in the Big South Conference and around the county as an emerging NFL-caliber receiver. Sumpter was on pace a season ago for possible All-American considerations before an injury sidelined him for four games. He produced 31 catches for 538 yards and a Big South-leading eight touchdowns, adding up to a first-team All-Big South selection.

“I have been working on becoming more of a vocal leader for this team,” added Sumpter. “As us older guys, we have to be the ones that become more vocal and take some of the responsibility to help out our younger teammates.”

Sumpter was on the field at The Perch for Kennesaw State’s second day of Training Camp Friday morning as it continues preparations for the opening act at Samford. The Owls and the Bulldogs kickoff at 7 p.m. (ET) on August 31 in Birmingham, Ala. – 34 days from today.

The Black and Gold went through an efficient and fast-paced two-hour practice, as head coach Brian Bohannon and his staff continued refining of all three phases of the game – offense, defense and special teams.

Kennesaw State will wear shells for the first time at Saturday morning’s practice, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

THE FINAL WORD PODCAST

“Camp is setting in for the guys, but I’m starting to see us fight through it. The days when you don’t feel good, those are the days you have to concentrate on getting better. Everybody can do this when you feel good, but it’s when you don’t that you have to make it count.” - Head Coach Brian Bohannon

You can listen to the full podcast on SoundCloud below (Click Here) or on KSUOwls.com

(Click Here).

July 29 (DAy 3) "Develop consistency"

The Owls got a break from the humidity during Saturday’s morning practice at The Perch – the third of 16 during 2017 Training Camp – but head coach Brian Bohannon kept the intensity turned up during the two-hour workout.

“You could tell during the meetings today that the guys were dragging a little bit,” said Bohannon. “But the good news is I saw a lot of guys fight through it today, and we ended up having a decent practice in the end.”

The team was in shoulder pads for the first time in Camp, and will have another practice tomorrow in shoulder pads before the first full-pads practice on Monday morning.

One of Coach Bohannon’s themes this season is consistency – something his Owls have struggled with – whether it’s putting together a complete game or even a complete practice. While he understands that comes with a territory of a young team, it’s something he’d like to see improved.

“We’ve talked about being consistent at a certain level, and the days that you don’t feel good are the days that you’re really going to gain on that (level of consistency),” said the head coach.

After meetings and film review Saturday night, and a team function Sunday morning, the Owls have another shot at developing their consistency during a late-afternoon practice on Sunday at The Perch.

The Final word podcast

"I have to step up this year and take more of an out-front role. I need to continue to learn from our coaches and it's exciting to get back on the field."

Junior WR Justin Sumpter spoke with Nathan McCreary following Friday's practice to kickoff another season of The Final Word Podcasts.

You can listen to the full podcast on SoundCloud below (Click Here) or on KSUOwls.com (Click Here).

July 27 (Day 1) "be aggressive"

Aggressive.

That was the message given to the Kennesaw State Owls before taking the field at 10 a.m. Thursday morning after a day of meetings and prep work, marking the start of the third annual Training Camp for the Black and Gold. KSU will spend the next two weeks preparing for the 2017 season before classes begin at Kennesaw State on August 14.

“It was a great feeling to get back on the field with my teammates today,” said junior LB Anthony Gore, Jr. “We wanted to come prepared today and have a good mindset. The mentality is to be aggressive. Be aggressive in every drill and push each other to be better as we are getting close to our first game at Samford.”

There were 100 Owls at The Perch on Thursday morning as practice began under hot and humid conditions. The Black and Gold jumpstarted the day with breakfast provided by JD’s Barbeque, treatments, and positional meetings before a spirited practice of 24 periods. The remainder of Thursday’s schedule includes lunch, weights, dinner and team meetings.

The team practices again Friday morning without pads at 10 a.m., before moving to shells on Saturday at the same time.

July 26 (Report Day)...

The Kennesaw State Owls welcomed 100 student-athletes back to campus Wednesday to report for the program’s third annual Training Camp, which kicked off Thursday (July 27) morning at The Perch. Wednesday’s activities included players checking into the hotel, a team dinner and presentations from various departments including compliance, marketing, academics, communications and administration.

The Owls are the preseason co-favorites in the Big South Conference, they boast a conference-leading eight preseason all-league picks, and welcome back 16 starters from a 2016 team that exceeded expectations by going 8-3, getting ranked in the Top 25 for the first time, and coming one win shy of a conference title.

"Those accolades are great, and we're excited that our young program is getting that kind of recognition," said head coach Brian Bohannon, who was one of 15 finalists for the 2016 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. "But honestly, we haven't accomplished any of the goals we set when this program began. Our goals are to win a championship and make the playoffs and those two are still right in front of us."

Also Wednesday, Jim Kiritsy, KSU's director of strength & conditioning, handed out the team's Iron Owl Award to LB Izzy Sam for his effort and dedication in and out of the weight room over the past year.