Spencer Brown

UAB hit the field running – literally – on the first day of spring football practice. The pace was so quick, that it was even an adjustment for a member of Bill Clark’s coaching staff.

“The way we practice here at UAB, I’m going to need a couple more to get back in shape,” said offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent.

Actually, Vincent had a strong idea of what would happen in his first UAB practice since serving as Clark’s offensive coordinator during the 2014 season.

“Being here in ‘14 and coming back, Coach Clark practices a certain way, so I know what to expect,” Vincent. Said. “I knew we were going to get after it, there were going to be a lot of reps and there was going to be a lot of urgency.”

That’s pretty much what happened on a breezy Tuesday morning. The Blazers practiced for more than two hours in helmets and shorts. Clark came away pleased with his team’s play, even though the true measure will come once the Blazers get into pads.

“Lord, yes,” Clark said when asked if Tuesday’s first day of spring was a bit easier to prepare for than last spring, when the Blazers were building toward the return. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, got a lot of expectations. Our expectation level is tremendous. As I told them, those guys understanding where they’re supposed to be, what it looks like, all those things, now allows us to coach details. It was a good first day. As you can see, I have a smile on my face.”

*One of the more intriguing positions this spring is running back, where Spencer Brown returns after earning Freshman All-American honors in his first college season. Brown is a few pounds lighter than last season, weighing in the neighborhood of 225 pounds, and appears quicker than during his standout freshman season.

The intriguing part, though, is the crowd that joins Brown in the backfield. The Blazers have nine running backs on the spring roster, including sophomore Lucious Stanley, who is working his way back from a knee injury suffered in his freshman season. Transfer running backs Jarrion Street (Ole Miss) and Kingston Davis (Michigan, Independence Community College) got on the UAB practice field for the first time.

“First, we’re talking about competition, it makes us all better,” Clark said. “In the course of the year, when we get to that point, you need bodies for 75-80-85 snaps. And, then, you’ve got 12 games and hopefully more after that. You need people. That group is exciting.”

*UAB signee Jalen Rayam of Thompson High visited Tuesday’s practice, along with Thompson High head coach Mark Freeman. Former UAB defensive end Bryant Turner, who has played in the Canadian Football League since 2011, also watched a part Tuesday’s practice.

*It doesn’t seem that long ago that UAB was practicing for the Bahamas Bowl. Clark said his team is feeling the benefits of the extra practice, especially with a large group of returnees.

“Any time you can have continuity, that’s big,” Clark said. “We’re sitting here with 32 seniors. That’s exciting to have guys coming back. I was trying to think back to when I did have a return group. Gosh, it was four or five years ago since I’ve had to have two springs, back to back, with the same group. We got a lot of guys back, that’s exciting. It was really a good first day (with) energy (and) everybody was where they were supposed to be.”