UWF Football: 5 takeaways from Argos scrimmage on Friday
On a checklist of items, the University of West Florida’s scrimmage Friday night produced approval marks.
And another measure of consistency.
“This is kind of what I have seen for 10 days. I’ve seen really, good competition on both sides of the ball,” said UWF football Pete Shinnick, following a two and a half hour session at Pen-Air Field. “There were a couple of good offensive drives, then you saw some good defensive stops, and you saw some guys make really good plays. I feel like we are in a great place.”
Often times, the middle scrimmage of a college team’s preseason workout schedule can be the one causing displeasure. The Argos didn’t allow that to happen.
“The question I now have is that we played a lot of guys, we got them a lot of reps (play repetitions), and now it’s who stood out that I didn’t see. But the guys we are putting in there as starters, I like what I am seeing, I like where we’re at.”
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The Argos will have a final scrimmage at 6 p.m. next Thursday (Aug. 25) in preparation for Sept. 3 season opener at Pen-Air Field against the Warner University Royals, an NAIA team located near Lake Wales in central Florida. The scrimmage next week will be the Argos’ designated “Fan Day,” giving people a chance to meet the UWF players and staff afterward.
“That is really a final tune-up. That is a trial run for a game and then we will start getting in a game mode,” said Shinnick who begins his sixth season and ninth year at UWF as the Argos only head coach.
Five things that stood out at Friday’s scrimmage
Quarterback Battle
Byron Jarrett, a first team national junior college All-American in 2021 at Iowa Central Community College, is the leader in the quarterback competition to replace Austin Reed. Jarrett directed a 12-play, scrimmage opening drive for a field goal, then ran for a touchdown on another series and showed his arm strength on long passes.
Michael Rich Jr. from Gadsden, Alabama and transfer from Murray State, got work with the second. Three other quarterbacks got work in the scrimmage Friday as well.
“I think Byron did a fantastic job,” Shinnick said. “He was pretty much successful most of the night. Byron took reps with the ones and we’re kind of moving in that direction.
Defensive Impact
Shannon Showers, a transfer from Southern Miss, continued to make a strong impression as the guy who is following safety D’Anthony Bell as the Argos secondary leader. Bell, an undrafted free agent, has caught NFL attention as a standout in preseason for the Cleveland Browns and viewed as a good bet to make the team.
Showers has been a practice standout since the first days and showed more of it Friday with a ball-jarring hit and excellent coverage.
“We preach, ‘Swarm and Eat’ and we were swarming around trying to get to the ball,” Showers said. “Coach (Darian) Dulian emphasis our defense of ‘bend but don’t break.’ We just can give up explosives. If you do that, nine times out of ten you will win.”
Receiver Boost
Caden Leggett, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship at Texas Tech, had a touchdown grab and is expected to help compliment returning star receiver David Durden, an honorable mention Division II All-American last season,
“I told coach (Shinnick), I’m just trying to be a sponge and try to be a leader at the same time,” he said. “Coming in here and getting to know and learn from those guys coming back from last year, David Durden and Larry Rembert is a big benefit.
“You got a lot of new parts, not just at quarterback. You’ve got lot of new pieces to the puzzle this year. I’m very happy with the way our guys came in studied the playbook and learned their roles.”
Shinnick said those three receivers, along with Jared Smith, a sophomore from Enterprise, Alabama, give the Argos a quartet of playmakers.
“Caden has stepped right in and has established himself as a go-to guy,” Shinnick said. “I think we have another potent group that is going to create some problems for people.”
Sure Foot
Griffin Cerra picked up where he left from last season as dependable field goal kicker. He made all of his attempts last night in both a regular portion of the scrimmage, along with situational play series.
Cerra is a junior from Fort Lauderdale, who returns along with kick snapper Wyatt Adams and holder Steve Dawson.
“Griff probably hit his stride midway through last season,” Shinnick said. “And then I felt like he was as good as there was out there. He had a very good spring and he picked right up. We were out here in the rain and he kicks a 50-yarder and almost hit the (team training center) building.”
Team Unity
In addition to requiring players to shake hands amongst each other following a practice or scrimmage, Shinnick has added a high-five exchange before a team meeting on the field.
““It’s the culture,” Showers said. “Coach Shinnick has made something great here. You hear it and think, I don’t know if it is really going to be like that. Then you get here and it’s great. Everybody buys in and it’s a great team.”
Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and now senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He can be reached at bvilona@bluewahoos.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Following scrimmage, UWF Football on desired track as new season nears
