ARCATA — Twenty seasons into his career as a college football head coach, Humboldt State’s Rob Smith has experienced the butterflies of anticipation before. But heading into the 2010 fall training camp, his third at HSU, Smith’s eagerness to get rolling is matched by a strong group of players that has set high expectations.
2010 Lumberjack Roster
“They’re hungry to get started,” said Smith, who will welcome 111 players officially Wednesday. “More than 60 players sacrificed visiting family and other summer plans to stay here and condition and work out. That’s a commitment I haven’t seen previously in my entire career.”
The result will be a bigger, stronger contingent of returning players who only lost six starters to graduation from last year’s highly-competitive squad. But despite the improvement that saw the Jacks vying for victory in every outing, they posted a 5-5 record, a mark Smith believes the 2010 squad is determined to leave far behind.
Experience will come into play immediately, as this year’s fall practice session has been shortened by changes in NCAA rules, leaving the Jacks with 24 practice sessions, including two scrimmages. Their first game is set for Sept. 4 at NCAA Division I FCS school Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Humboldt State’s fortunes begin directly in the middle of the offense, where All-American candidate Taylor Boggs returns for his senior season at center. He’ll be blocking for returning starter Mike Proulx, at quarterback, and a talented bevy of running backs that includes transfer Lyndon Rowells, who earned JC All-American honors at College of the Redwoods last fall.
Defensively, the Jacks return veteran Justin Hornsby on the line after the senior was forced to miss the majority of 2009 with an injury. They’ve supplemented the returning corps with transfers Andrew Iupati, from University of Oregon, also on the line, and former Del Norte High School standout Seann Reed, who comes to the Jacks from Nevada-Reno for his senior season at linebacker.
“We have a nice blend of returning players and talented newcomers on both sides of the ball,” Smith said. “It’s going to be very important for those experienced student-athletes to mesh quickly with the new players and help them pick up what we’re doing.”
NOTES: The Lumberjacks’ first day is devoted to paperwork, holding off the first no-pads practice until Thursday evening. They won’t get a chance to suit up in full pads until Monday. …HSU’s two scrimmages are set for 6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 20, and 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28. Taking place in Redwood Bowl, both are free and open to the public. …Season tickets and family passes are on sale for the Jacks’ five home games. A reserved section with seatbacks will be offered for the first time on the east side of Redwood Bowl. Call 826-5959 for more information or follow this link: HSU Football Season TIckets