UAB Wraps Up 2025 Spring Practice With Showcase

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - April 26, 2025

A spring practice aimed toward discovery ended with an abbreviated Spring Showcase for Trent Dilfer and his UAB football team.

The Blazers ran around 25 plays during the regular portion of the scrimmage and also did some situational work in front of a crowd of a few hundred people at Legacy Pavilion.

“We didn't want it to be real long, we're banged up obviously,” Dilfer said following the scrimmage. “I think we only have 55 players available today to practice. But they practiced hard and it was nice having fans here. It kind of put the bow on the spring.”

Dilfer mentioned quarterback Jalen Kitna, defensive end Jamichael Rogers, a Miles College transfer, and wide receiver Brandon Hawkins Jr. when asked if any individuals stood out. Kitna directed the offense on its lone scoring drive during his short time on the field. He scored the touchdown on a five-yard run and followed with a conversion pass to Hawkins. Overall, during the scrimmage work, Kitna was 7-for-9 for 65 yards and his lone carry resulted in the touchdown.

Transfer portal addition Ryder Burton was the second quarterback into the scrimmage and he was followed by Trace Campbell. Burton was 4-for-6 for 45 yards and threw the lone interception of the regular scrimmage. Campbell completed his lone pass attempt for four yards. Burton’s performance ended what has been a solid spring for the transfer, who played at BYU and West Virginia before coming to UAB.

“Ryder's been, again, the right kind of person, the ultimate teammate,” Dilfer said. “Everybody will tell you that, he’s the ultimate teammate. When he's not in his reps, he's always encouraging, coaching, you know, doing something, bringing positivity to the group. He practiced at  high level throughout spring. We're really excited to have Ryder. And every position group, honestly, will continue as a competition through a fall camp, because like I've said, I don't know who we are yet, so I think competition will bring out the best in all of us.”

The Blazers also ran a pair of situational series where the ball was placed at the defense’s 15-yard line. Ryder quarterbacked one of the series and Campbell was the quarterback on the other. Both resulted in touchdowns with running backs Jevon Jackson and Amari Brundidge each scoring on four-yard runs.

Solomon Beebe was the leading rusher during the scrimmage with three carries for 26 yards and Isaiah Jacobs had a team-high three catches for 24 yards. Junior college transfer tight end Elijah Lagg had two catches for 16 yards with both coming on conversion downs and tight end J.C Sivley’s 14-yard reception set up Kitna’s scoring run.

It was also a solid day for the defense, which forced three turnovers in the scrimmage. Cornerback Tariq Watson had an interception on a deep pass thrown by Ryder and Watson also recovered a fumble after a botched exchange. Kyle McKinney also recovered a fumble.

“I think we have a lot of work to do on the offensive line,” Dilfer said. “I think they will tell you that as well. Defensively, it’s a better group (than last year), more talented, plays harder. It’s a group that the scheme fits well what they do. I think that’s part of defensive line play. And we’re deep. We feel really confident about the depth of our defensive line.”

Returnee Eddy Toussom played well in the spring after moving full-time to the inside linebacker spot. He spent last season, which was his first at UAB, trying to find a spot at both inside and outside.

“We finally found the right (spot) for him,” Dilfer said. “He's really embraced this group, this coaching style, the system. He's still growing. And again, I can say that for everybody, myself as much as anybody. He's growing as a player, but this scheme fits him well. And he's been another one that just shows up and has made a lot of plays for us.”

Now it’s on to the summer for the Blazers as they work toward trying to improve after finishing 7-17 in Dilfer’s first two seasons. Part of the task, after the fact-finding spring practice, for the coaching staff is filling out a roster that included depth challenges at many positions.

“I think we're all learning about each other,” Dilfer said. “You know, when you sit there in December and you have 41 players on your team and you're redoing half your coaching staff, you have to really have a solid perspective what you're trying to (accomplish) this spring. I think for us, it was everybody getting to know each other. I thought we did a lot of good things.”