Practice No. 22: The Texas A&M football team worked out in full pads at the Coolidge practice fields Thursday morning for 2 hours, 35 minutes.
A&M head coach Mike Sherman was pleased with the team's effort coming off the camp's third and final scrimmage.
"I thought we made progress and have made progress throughout camp," he said, noting junior linebacker Garrick Williams and sophomore linebacker Kyle Mangan had solid performances in the scrimmage.
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Getting healthy: Junior strong safety Trent Hunter and sophomore free safety Steven Campbell returned to practice after being sidelined with foot injuries. Hunter, who missed approximately a week, took part in all drills. Campbell, seeing his first action, was limited as the workout progressed.
"[Campbell's] ankle tweaked a little, so we took him out as a precaution, but hopefully, we'll get him back again full speed by Monday," said Sherman, adding that it will take time for Campbell to be in playing shape especially since he was held out of spring drills. Sherman didn't know if Campbell would be ready for the season opener next week against Stephen F. Austin.
Sophomore free safety Steven Terrell, who is having a great fall camp, watched the scrimmage from the sideline. Sherman said Terrell has taken a "thousand reps this fall camp" and felt it was in everyone's best interest to give him a day off.
Sophomore Blaine Cheatham took Terrell's spot.
"One thing about Cheatham, he's going to give you everything he has," Sherman said.
Junior cornerback Coryell Judie (ankle) and junior defensive lineman Tony Jerod-Eddie (concussion symptoms) also were back taking part in all drills.
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Sleeping better: A&M's special teams have put together three solid days, which has helped Sherman sleep better.
"We were horrendous during one point in the week," Sherman said. "I thought we punted the ball real well [Thursday]."
Junior place-kicker Randy Bullock had his third straight solid day after a poor kicking session Monday.
"We've gotten some things worked out with him on what he was doing wrong," Sherman said. "And our punters for the most part -- knock on wood -- have punted pretty well in the last two days. Hopefully, that will continue into next week and next weekend."
Sophomore Kenric McNeal and junior Terrence Frederick have emerged as the leading candidates to return punts -- McNeal because of his explosiveness and Frederick for his sure hands. Sherman said the final decision will be made next week.
McNeal didn't return a punt last year while Frederick had two for 4 yards.
Sherman also wants to see freshman Nate Askew (6-foot-4, 223 pounds) return punts because of his big frame, speed and experience. Askew had two punt returns for touchdowns last year at San Antonio Madison.
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Injury updates: Junior quarterback Ryan Tannehill (foot) missed his fifth day of contact but held for place kicks. Redshirt freshman tight end Hutson Prioleau (high ankle sprain) and sophomore tight end Michael Lamothe (rib) didn't practice.
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Et cetera: Kansas' Fort Scott Community College, ranked No. 3 in the country among junior colleges, worked out on the Coolidge practice fields after A&M's scrimmage. The team will open the season at top-ranked and defending national champ Blinn at 3 p.m. Saturday at Cub Stadium in Brenham. ... Sherman said "they keep pushing the envelope" with freshman inside linebacker Domonique Patterson, who is a "pretty sure-handed tackler." ... A&M had a couple bad snap exchanges between center and quarterback within 5 minutes followed by a rash of dropped passes -- two each by Jeff Fuller and Ryan Swope and one by sophomore running back Christine Michael. Sherman, needless to say, wasn't happy with the bad stetch. ... Junior defensive back Kolten Thigpen jumped a route to intercept a Jerrod Johnson pass. ... Johnson made four straight completions during a 2-minute drill until a blitzing Cheatham sacked him. That forced the offense to settle for a 42-yard Bullock field goal.
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Next: A&M will close fall camp with a 6:35 a.m. Friday practice that's closed to the public. It had been scheduled to be outside and open to the public. The early start will allow the players to head home earlier for the weekend. The players will report back Sunday night in preparation for the Sept. 4 season opener against SFA.
-- Robert Cessna
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