Back to business for UTRGV linebackers

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EDINBURG — UTRGV Football returned to the field for Spring Practice No. 6 on Tuesday after holding an open practice, scrimmage and youth clinic on Saturday at PSJA Stadium in Pharr.

The Vaqueros got a chance to have fun and run through drills with 200 local kids at the youth clinic over the weekend, but it was back to business on Tuesday at the Vaqueros Performance Center in Edinburg.

“Hats off to the fans that made it out there to PSJA on Saturday. It was a great environment and our kids really had a fun time with them,” UTRGV head coach Travis Bush said. “It was the first big scrimmage for us of the spring, really only getting two major scrimmages, so to get out there and get a lot of reps, we stayed healthy, it was a beautiful day and we got a lot of evaluations done. This week’s a new week, one more scrimmage next week, but what you’ve seen is some depth chart movement, some guys battling and some guys moving up and down the depth chart, so that’s what this is about.”

UTRGV Football also announced it will host two prospect camps this summer on June 2 and June 9 at the Vaqueros Performance Center fields, located behind UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg. The camp is open to 9th-12th graders and junior college and transfer students with registration beginning at 8 a.m.

The Vaqueros will hold two more practices this week on Thursday and Saturday. The Vaqueros will hold a closed intrasquad scrimmage next Saturday, and play in their inaugural Spring Game at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17 at Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School in Brownsville. Tickets for UTRGV’s Spring Game are free and available at UTRGVTickets.com.

We’ll continue to dive into different position groups throughout Spring Ball to give a look at each position and the players competing for starting and roster spots this spring.

LINEBACKERS

UTRGV has lined up in multiple fronts this spring as Brian Gamble, the Vaqueros’ assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, mixes it up to give different looks on defense.

“Defensively, we’re doing a lot,” Bush said. “We’re very multiple defensively and I love what we do. It causes offenses problems, and then me as the offensive play caller, it’s a headache everyday. Really, Coach Gamble does a phenomenal job and the whole defensive staff. … They’re playing with a lot of passion, a lot of energy, really running to the football and making good things happen.”

There’s been some movement throughout the first two weeks of spring practice with players taking first and second team reps, but the linebacker spot is an important one as the quarterbacks of the defense.

Linebackers Trey Bright and Spencer Rich were running with the first group on Tuesday and led the defense with a strong practice against the Vaqueros’ offense.

The graduate student Rich is one of the most experienced college football players on the UTRGV roster after spending three years at Memphis and last season at Utah Tech, where he finished with 52 tackles and one pass break up in nine games.

“Off the rip, I know it’s a really young roster, but it’s a really experienced coaching staff that knows what it’s doing and is building a culture that’s full of energy,” Rich said. “This team has a lot of energy, a lot of people that really want to be good at football. These first few weeks of spring ball, it’s taken some time getting to know the playbook and stuff, but it’s starting to get to the point where it’s comfortable. Install starts to slow down a little bit and you start to really go out there and not think and be able to make plays.”

The freshman and Barbers Hill alumnus Bright was running beside Rich on Monday. He said he enjoys playing at the second level because of the physicality and leadership role linebackers have.

“I’ve been missing the pads popping since fall. Coming into the spring, it’s exciting to be able to get it going,” Bright said. “I’ve always loved playing linebacker because of the fact that you get to be the quarterback of the defense. You get the call, make sure the safety’s got it and we gotta get it all down in front and make sure everyone is in their spots and make sure it all runs smoothly.”

Smithson Valley alumnus Jaxson Maynard and Converse Judson alumnus Jaiden Haygood have also spent time running with the first group early on. The two freshmen were running with the second group on Tuesday.

“There’s a good group of about four of them that are rolling in and out and really subbing with the one’s and two’s, just trying to look at them in different situations,” Bush said. “Linebacker-wise, our defense is set up, those dudes just gotta do their job. They don’t gotta just be phenomenal athletes, different lengths and speed, they’re the quarterbacks of the defense. They just got to be where they’re supposed to be at the right time and be mad when they get there.”

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