UAB FOOTBALL FALL CAMP REPORT: Update FROM DAY SIX

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - August 5, 2024

MONDAY UAB FOOTBALL NOTES

Versatility has helped the UAB running back position stand out during fall camp, according to Blazers head coach Trent Dilfer.

Right now, it appears that Lee Beebe Jr., Isaiah Jacobs and Armoni Goodwin are competing for the first team reps with Lee Witherspoon also in the mix. Solomon Beebe, a true freshman from Pike Road High in Montgomery and Lee’s younger brother, has also made an impact.

“Listen, I don't want to say a bad thing about a running back group last year,” Dilfer said. “They're really good players. I think this group is a little more versatile. You know what I mean? Like, last year's group was really good. This year's group's really good. I would say this group's a little more versatile. Part of that's Lee Beebe’s maturity. I think it's Isaiah, even though he was hurt, in the off season working on some skill set stuff that now we're starting to see. And then Armoni, obviously, is a unique athlete. Everybody in Birmingham knows who he is for a reason, right. He's special.”

Those three were expected to lead the way. But the depth is also showing.

“I'll tell you what, Beebe’s younger brother, Solomon, has been great,” Dilfer said. “Lee Witherspoon has been fantastic so far, a versatile player. You know, he's a tailback. He's a fullback. He's a special teams guru. He can move like an H -tight end, catches the ball in the backfield. So, we got a lot of good backs. And the challenge for us is we got to use them right.”

Other notes following the team’s sixth fall camp practice:

*The tone of camp changes a little with the second week beginning with Monday’s practice in shells.

“With install patterns, you know, there's so much information that, you're balancing system overload to a certain degree, which is purposeful, and can they still play fast and work their technique and get off blocks and play together,” Dilfer said. “So, you've got a lot of things going on, you know what I mean? And you're trying to balance week two of how much is it about execution, how much is about just raw will and fight and toughness and kind of the core values of winning football. Obviously, you're looking for both. This team, like I've said, has a lot of want to, a lot of try to. There's no flinch in them. They're giving everything they have.”

The Blazers are scheduled to practice in full pads for the first time on Tuesday.

*Dilfer on the play of his team’s defense thus far in camp: “Playing exponentially harder. Communication is exponentially better. Block destruction is getting better. It's not to where it needs to be, but they'd be the first to tell you that. It's getting better. Systems integration, let's call it, is better. Now, we're not good yet, but we're much better than we've been, which is a good sign.”

*Desmond Little was chosen as the AAC Preseason Edge Defender of the Year by College Football Network. Other UAB players earning preseason All-AAC honors by CFN were center Brady Wilson on second team, quarterback Jacob Zeno and wide receiver Amare Thomas on second team and running back Lee Beebe Jr., cornerback Colby Dempsey, defensive tackle Kevin Penn and linebacker Michael Moore as honorable mention.