What Eddie George will be watching in Tennessee State's spring football game

When Tennessee State football wraps up spring practice Saturday with its annual blue and white game, coach Eddie George and his staff will be focused on three specific areas as they head into the 2023 season.

The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at Hale Stadium. There will be a flag football game featuring several TSU legends at 1:30.

Here is what George is looking for:

Quarterback play with Draylen Ellis out

Last year's starting quarterback Draylen Ellis is sitting out spring practice for academic reasons. The transfer from Austin Peay threw for 1,807 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022.

George said Ellis will have work to do when he returns and his absence provided some less experienced players the opportunity to shine.

"When he comes back he has to continue to show he can be a leader on and off the field by making better decisions," George said. "That's a position we've got to develop and continue to get better at."

Deveon Bryant is getting the bulk of the snaps with the first unit and will be the starter in the spring game. The 6-foot-5 senior from Illinois started two games in 2021 and has spent most of his career as a backup completing a total of 51-of-114 passes for 533 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He's also rushed for 269 yards on 70 carries and scored five touchdowns.

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George said he's seen decision-making qualities in Bryant he would like to see in Ellis.

"Deveon has had a really good camp," George said. "He's shown great leadership. I've seen a lot of growth in his accuracy and with his understanding of where to go with the football making great decisions both running and throwing in the run-pass-option system."

Freshman Ryder Hagen from Overton has played well and is expect to get some snaps in the spring game.

Demeatric Crenshaw, a transfer from Youngstown State who was the Missouri Valley Conference freshman of the year in 2021, has struggled through the spring.

Top linebacker is back

After leading the Tigers in tackles in 2021, linebacker James Green was the 2022 OVC preseason defensive player of the year, but missed the entire season with a shoulder injury. Green is back and picked right up where he left off.

"I felt bad that he missed last season; he could have had a special season," George said. "I knew he would be back, but I didn't know he would be in pads and hitting the way he's been hitting in the spring. He's passionate about it. He still has some rust to knock off, but he definitely is an asset for us."

Green has 131 career tackles, 14.5 for loss and two interceptions.

With Green back and joining transfers Monroe Beard III and K'Vaughan Pope, George expects the Tigers to have the best linebacking corps since he's been the coach.

Beard is originally from Chattanooga and played last season at Arkansas Pine-Bluff where he recorded 37 tackles, 4.5 for loss and 2.0 sacks. He has been dominant in the spring.

Pope transferred from Ohio State in 2022 and tied for second on the team with 62 total tackles. He made the All-OVC second team.

Who are the leaders?

Something lacking through George's first two seasons was players assuming leadership roles.

George was a leader throughout his NFL career as a star running back with the Tennessee Titans and is finally starting to see some players follow his lead. A game-type situation like Saturday will provide the opportunity for that to happen to an even greater degree.

"Where this team has shown the most growth is in the category of leadership," George said. "Guys are really stepping up and taking ownership, buying into what we're doing and how things are going to go as far as the standard."

Green is a candidate for a leadership role on defense along with his brother Josh, a four-year starting safety, and defensive back Dion Villiers.

Karate Brenson, the leading returning receiver who transferred from Ball State, has been a leader by example through spring drills, along with fellow receiver Da'Shon Davis, George said.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What Eddie George will be watching in Tennessee State spring football game