Every player I wondered about yesterday was either at practice today or, in two cases, are out with injuries. The injured players are offensive lineman Dominic Steward, a true freshman who worked with the first team some in spring drills but has been a backup all season.
Landry Cannon, Jean Claude Joseph, E'Zaiah Shine, Armani Cargo and Chase Green are on the scout team and wearing numbers of Florida players.
Tulane has had zero opt-outs for the bowl, so the only guys not playing are the ones who entered the transfer portal and did not stick around--Darian Mensah, Kai Horton, Trey Cornist, Josh Goines, Parker Petersen and Matthew Fobbs-White.
Rayshawn Pleasant returned to practice after missing a day with an unspecified injury.
Phat Watts and Javion White practiced today after missing yesterday's workout because they were new fathers. White made a nice play to break up a pass from the scout-team offense and was very noticeable today.
Kam Hamilton missed his second straight day with an ankle injury, but Sumrall said yesterday he would be ready for the bowl game.
This was the equivalent of a Tuesday practice, though somewhat shorter. Tomorrow will be like a Wednesday, with Saturday a walkthrough and Sunday a run-through before the team flies to Tampa on Monday.
I talked to Sumrall, Makhi Hughes and Eric HIcks today
SUMRALL
On Dominic Steward and Landry Cannon:
"He (Dominic)'s here. He had a little bit of a procedure done. Landry has been out with an injury for six weeks. Dom had a little wrist procedure. We planned it for after the championship game. He probably won't be available for the game."
On practice today:
"It was good. Solid. We're trying to figure out what can we do with who we have. We are going to have to play the game differently in some ways than we have all year in particular on offense, so we're just trying to figure out what works with who we have versus who we're playing."
On no opt-outs:
"They are all in. That says as much about the culture as anything. Mario Williams, Dontae Fleming, Yulkeith Brown--all playing. The three senior O-lineman--all playing. Tyler Grubbs, Eric Hicks, Pat Jenkins--all playing. All those guys--Johnathan Edwards, Micah Robinson--all playing. It says a lot about, while we may have had a defection or two--this team's close, and this time likes each other, they care about each other and there's a lot of pride in the group of seniors. So many of those guys, if they wanted to walk away, they would have already walked away. Pat Jenkins and Josh Remetich could have left, and they stayed. It says a lot about who they are and what they are about. It's a credit to them."
On seniors having changed legacy of program:
"I really looked to the guys who have been here for the long haul that went through 2-10 2021 and to see what theyve been able to accomplish the last three years is special and unique. It's about them. It's about the players. I say this to them all the time--good teams are coach led, great teams have to be player led. You don't do what's been done here without great player leadership, and these guys are a huge component of that."
On goal in bowl:
"It's a tough draw. We all know that. We're playing Florida in their backyard. They are playing like one of the top three or four SEC teams the last month of the year. Since (DJ) Lagway's been inserted and healthy, they are scary. They are really good, and it's a huge challenge. I just want our guys to prepare the best we can and go play the best game we can play and let the chips fall where they may and don't be outcome focused, be process focused and give ourselves an opportunity to put our best foot forward."
Landry Cannon, Jean Claude Joseph, E'Zaiah Shine, Armani Cargo and Chase Green are on the scout team and wearing numbers of Florida players.
Tulane has had zero opt-outs for the bowl, so the only guys not playing are the ones who entered the transfer portal and did not stick around--Darian Mensah, Kai Horton, Trey Cornist, Josh Goines, Parker Petersen and Matthew Fobbs-White.
Rayshawn Pleasant returned to practice after missing a day with an unspecified injury.
Phat Watts and Javion White practiced today after missing yesterday's workout because they were new fathers. White made a nice play to break up a pass from the scout-team offense and was very noticeable today.
Kam Hamilton missed his second straight day with an ankle injury, but Sumrall said yesterday he would be ready for the bowl game.
This was the equivalent of a Tuesday practice, though somewhat shorter. Tomorrow will be like a Wednesday, with Saturday a walkthrough and Sunday a run-through before the team flies to Tampa on Monday.
I talked to Sumrall, Makhi Hughes and Eric HIcks today
SUMRALL
On Dominic Steward and Landry Cannon:
"He (Dominic)'s here. He had a little bit of a procedure done. Landry has been out with an injury for six weeks. Dom had a little wrist procedure. We planned it for after the championship game. He probably won't be available for the game."
On practice today:
"It was good. Solid. We're trying to figure out what can we do with who we have. We are going to have to play the game differently in some ways than we have all year in particular on offense, so we're just trying to figure out what works with who we have versus who we're playing."
On no opt-outs:
"They are all in. That says as much about the culture as anything. Mario Williams, Dontae Fleming, Yulkeith Brown--all playing. The three senior O-lineman--all playing. Tyler Grubbs, Eric Hicks, Pat Jenkins--all playing. All those guys--Johnathan Edwards, Micah Robinson--all playing. It says a lot about, while we may have had a defection or two--this team's close, and this time likes each other, they care about each other and there's a lot of pride in the group of seniors. So many of those guys, if they wanted to walk away, they would have already walked away. Pat Jenkins and Josh Remetich could have left, and they stayed. It says a lot about who they are and what they are about. It's a credit to them."
On seniors having changed legacy of program:
"I really looked to the guys who have been here for the long haul that went through 2-10 2021 and to see what theyve been able to accomplish the last three years is special and unique. It's about them. It's about the players. I say this to them all the time--good teams are coach led, great teams have to be player led. You don't do what's been done here without great player leadership, and these guys are a huge component of that."
On goal in bowl:
"It's a tough draw. We all know that. We're playing Florida in their backyard. They are playing like one of the top three or four SEC teams the last month of the year. Since (DJ) Lagway's been inserted and healthy, they are scary. They are really good, and it's a huge challenge. I just want our guys to prepare the best we can and go play the best game we can play and let the chips fall where they may and don't be outcome focused, be process focused and give ourselves an opportunity to put our best foot forward."
