UAB COMPLETES FIRST PRACTICE OF SPRING
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - March 26, 2025
UAB returned to the practice field on Wednesday morning for the first of 15 spring practice sessions. Afterward a practice that lasted about two hours, UAB head coach Trent Dilfer stopped by to meet with the media. Dilfer was asked about the theme for his team this spring.
“We have a lot of internal things that I'll keep internal,” Dilfer said. “But, I mean, the ultimate theme and you'll talk to a lot of our players (is) we have a lot to prove. It's been incredibly disappointing (two seasons) and I try not to talk too much about the past. We have to learn from the past too. We just got to continue to prove it every single day. It's a great conference, really talented players, great coaches in the conference. We just got to prove every single day that we belong. I think that's something the players have heard me say a lot. It's been a very matter of fact approach. And the matter of fact is we're not even close to where we need to be.”
The Blazers are at a crossroads after finishing 7-17 in Dilfer’s two seasons as the program’s head coach. The program was coming off six consecutive bowl eligible seasons since the return in 2017 and seven in a row counting 2014. Stepping forward is a necessity this season. But Dilfer said the progress can’t be measured by words.
“So much talking going on this time of year,” Dilfer said. “I'm very careful not to talk a lot, be slow to speak and quick to listen. We don't have the right to talk, to be honest with you. Our actions have to prove that we can be a winning program.”
The initial action was restructuring the defensive coaching staff, beginning with bringing in defensive coordinator Steve Russ, and rebuilding a roster that was depleted by graduation and transfer portal defections. Only three players – quarterback Jalen Kitna, offensive lineman JonDarius Morgan and safety Sirad Bryant – are considered returning starters. On Wednesday, defensive staff members Brent Vieselmeyer (secondary), Ryan Lewis Sr. (cornerbacks), Tee Mitchell (nickels), Sam Mills III (defensive line) and Jon Celestine (linebackers) were coaching their first official practice at UAB.
Safety A.J. Brown was asked about the difference in the new staff.
“You definitely get a lot of NFL experience,” Brown said. “With the NFL experience, that really helps because you can look and learn different angles, different ways of looking at offense. That helps everybody get better.”
Brown is one of the returnees from last year’s defense, even though he was not a starter. The 6-foot, 195-pound redshirt junior entered the transfer portal after the conclusion of the 2024 season but pulled his name out not long afterward. It was a big win for Dilfer and the staff.
Brown had a breakout season in 2024, contributing 31 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and two pass deflections. He was asked on Wednesday why he came back for another season at UAB instead of remaining in the portal.
“Well, UAB, it'll find a way to make a good home for you,” Brown said. “At this point in my career, I felt like UAB was a place where I could stay and really get better and improve my game.”
Brown and Bryant are the key returnees at a safety position where newcomers will provide most of the depth. That’s the case throughout the defense as only a handful of returning players got significant playing time. But the returnees will play a key role this spring and into the summer.
“I feel like the important thing for us returning guys is really just holding a standard,” Brown said. “Really it’s setting that bar so the new guys coming in know where the bar is that and we could just rise from there.”
On the other side of the ball, Kitna opened a spring practice for the first time as the starter. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound senior started the final eight games last season and is clearly in front of a quarterback position that is looking for a pecking order this spring. Incoming sophomore Ryder Burton showed threw the ball well in his first practice with the Blazers. He will battle with redshirt freshmen Adrian Posse and Nate Rogers and redshirt junior Trace Campbell for the backup spot.
Quarterback is just one of many position battles that begin this spring. Adam Lepkowski, who missed most of last year with an injury, and Baron Franks II appear to be competing to replace Brady Wilson at center. The rest of the offensive lineman are also jockeying for position. Isaiah Jacobs is healthy and anchors a running back position that includes Solomon Beebe and transfer portal addition Jevon Jackson. Wide receiver looked on Wednesday to have quality depth and tight end is largely a blank slate heading into the rest of the spring.
“There's a lot of competition,” Dilfer said. “We have a lot of players kind of on equal footing. Spring is a great opportunity for them to develop, to chase their best and present themselves in a way that makes our decisions very difficult. When you have so much to prove, I think every day, you need to come out here with a mindset of ‘I gotta get a lot better.“