Despite quarterback Kevin Fant’s absence from Saturday’s game and his uncertain future, head coach Jackie Sherrill expressed pleasure with his football team’s spring performance.
“I was impressed with the guys picking up the signals and calling correct plays,” Sherrill said.
Fred Reid and Nick Turner led the Bulldog rushing attack, combining for 131 yards on nearly five yards a carry.
On the Bulldog’s final offensive possession Turner capped a 15-play drive when on fourth and goal from the one-yard line he hurtled over the goal line for his second touchdown of the day. Kyle York led the air attack going 16-30 for 192 yards. Sherrill said that York is suffering from a sore shoulder he sustained in practice.
“I thought the player that played the best offensively today was Justin Jenkins. He really made some catches and did some excellent things.
“All three tackles that are not out there are good players and they’ll be back,” Sherrill said.
Punter Jared Cook averaged 48 yards on three punts including a 65-yard boot. Redshirt freshman kicker Keith Andrews made kicks of 30, 39, 50 and 56.
Sophomore linebacker Kenny Kern led the defense with 15 tackles and two pass breakups.
“We probably made the most progress defensively,” Sherrill said. “T.J. (Mawhinney) and (Kenny) Kern are really going to help us.” The Dawg D totaled 99 tackles, two sacks, two turnovers and nine pass breakups.
In his postgame press conference, Sherrill shed some light on the absence of Fant. “After the first scrimmage Kevin and I met and we felt it was important to Kevin to kind of spend his time with his studies. “Kevin does not have to prove anything to us. He does not have to prove how tough he is. He does not have to prove that he can play, but he does have to get in order academically,” Sherrill said. Following questions about the cancellation of the 11 a.m. press conference in which Fant was going to give an explanation of the happenings over the past month, Sherrill bluntly expressed: “Frankly, Kevin didn’t want to talk to a couple of the guys in the media (The Clarion Ledger’s Todd Kelly and The Sun Herald’s Jim Mashek). My job is to protect Kevin and I will.”
Sherrill said Fant would most likely be on next year’s roster.
When asked if the abdominal strain issue was a “smoke screen” Sherrill responded: “He’s got some muscle pull there (abdomen).” “Whatever happens sometimes is private, not public. When Kevin wants to talk, he will,” Sherrill added.
One reporter asked whether a personal problem exists between Sherrill and Fant. Sherrill said, “No. That has nothing to do with it.”