Opening Scrimmage Highlights
The Commodores opened fall camp with a full‑speed scrimmage that served as the first real test of a defense still searching for its identity.
The defensive line proved its mettle against the run, with linemen such as Jaylon Stone, Brian Allen Jr. and Jake Stanish consistently collapsing the pocket and stuffing gaps before they could develop.
While the front seven excelled in run stopping, their pass rush was more modest; Stone and Stanish generated pressure in isolated one‑on‑one drills, but the overall sack count remained low.
Linebackers and Safeties Step Up
Linebackers found a rhythm early, highlighted by Jamison Curtis, whose downhill instincts translated into several tackles for loss and a few key pass breakups in the middle of the field.
The safety room also turned heads, as Ricardo Jones, Dontae Carter and Davin Chandler combined for solid coverage and hard‑hitting runs, with Carson Lawrence edging out Jailen Ruth for the first‑team spot.
Secondary Faces Growing Pains
Cornerbacks, however, struggled to contain deep routes, allowing receivers to slip past them more often than coaches would like, a flaw that the staff plans to address before the next outing.
With two weeks of camp remaining before the next controlled scrimmage, the coaching staff is optimistic that the unit can tighten up its pass rush and secondary play, aiming to convert the promising flashes into consistent production.