Apaches News
Wed, Aug 11, 2010 - [Football]
By JOE BUIE, Staff Writer, Tyler Junior College
 
After witnessing 102 football players report for physicals Tuesday, Tyler Junior College head coach Danny Palmer proclaimed the Apaches "on solid footing" for the 2010 season.
 
"A very impressive group with being here on time," said Palmer, entering his fourth year at the helm. "There was nobody checked in late in the dorm -- they were all here for the 2 o'clock meeting."
  
The Apaches will conduct their first practice for the fall season today from 9:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on their newly turfed practice field at the Pat Hartley Complex. The Apaches will work out again in the evening from 7:30-9:45 p.m.

The players will wear shorts, shoulder pads and helmets the first three days with no contact.

"Contact is considered scrimmaging," Palmer said. "You can work on your form-tackling, but you can't take people to the ground."

The first full-contact practice will be Saturday night, after a morning workout in shorts and shoulder pads. The team will attend church on Sunday before practicing Sunday night, Palmer said.

Conditioning will be the focus of the first three days, including various wind sprints.

"You add a little bit more of running each day … they haven't strained their bodies like they're going to," said Palmer, noting that the temperature on the turf was measured at 170 degrees at 3:30 in the afternoon the other day.

The Apaches have seven players back on offense with starting experience, and five on defense off a team that finished 7-3 and made the playoffs. Five of those starters are from the offensive line, including Lindale's Josh Gilbert.

Palmer counted 34 East Texans on the roster, including walk-ons. Robert E. Lee leads the way with 11 players -- Reggie Taylor, Simmon Blaylock, Patrick Howard, Ralston Dews, Thomas Lacy, Maurice Hood, Jamal Mitchell, C.J. Johnson (walk-on), Derell Tate, Hunter Hogan and Joe Turner (walk-on).

John Tyler is represented by Ky'Ordric Black, Jesse Diaz and Billy Thompkins.

The Apaches currently have four quarterbacks on their roster. Jeffrey Claybon, a sophomore from Lufkin, is set to be the starter. Next is former Mesquite standout Luke Halpin, who transferred from West Texas A&M.

TJC signed Dominique Jefferson out of Channelview and the Apaches also have walk-on Chris Bell at quarterback. Palmer said Randy Price, a freshman from Waco University, did not get eligible.

Smoke Signals:

TJC sophomore Corey Brown, a second-team all-conference pick in 2009, has transferred to Miami University in Ohio. Brown is a 6-5, 290-pound offensive tackle from Grand Prairie. Miami head coach Michael Haywood said Brown will be eligible to play this season and could challenge for a starting job at left tackle. … The Apaches have four home games at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium -- Sept. 4 vs. Kilgore (non-conference), Sept. 18 vs. Navarro, Oct. 9 vs. Blinn and Oct. 14 vs. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Navarro will be the homecoming game. … TJC opens the season Aug. 28 at Coffeyville (Kan.). The first eight games are scheduled for 7 p.m. The regular-season finale at Kilgore (Oct. 30) is 3 p.m. … The Apaches are scheduled to scrimmage Trinity Valley on Aug. 21 at TMF Rose Stadium. The kickoff is 7 p.m.