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The Bobcats prepare for the upcoming season at the first practice of fall camp.

Day 12 of football camp: Bobcats take it easy day after scrimmage; Solich shakes off a tough fall

The Bobcats practiced Saturday afternoon for the 12th time during fall camp. It was conducted in periods outside at Peden Stadium, with a total of 23 periods over two hours and 2 minutes. Here are The Post’s observations:

ATTENDANCE:

Absent: Elijah Ball (season-ending injury), Tyler Tupa (leg), Griffin Hites (leg), Austin Conrad (foot), Kent Berger (undisclosed), Javon Hagan (non-football illness), Andrew Meyer (undisclosed), Juan Watkins (arm), Amir Miller (undisclosed), Sam McKnight (undisclosed), Jerome Buckner (knee), O’Shaan Allison (undisclosed), TJ Robinson (ankle), Kaieem Caesar (undisclosed). 

Limited: Mason Bernhardt (undisclosed), Dante Ruozzo (undisclosed).

Returned: Zach Burks (undisclosed).

Notes:

  • Burks returned to the practice field for the first time in over five practices. 
  • Meyer sat out practice for the second straight day. May just be a rest day, can’t be anything too major as he wasn’t wearing a sling and didn’t have a limp. 
  • Coach Frank Solich said Hagan should be back on the practice field Monday. 

OBSERVATIONS:

Sights and Sounds

  • The Bobcats went easy the day after their first scrimmage. They didn’t wear any pads, just wore helmets, jerseys and shorts. 
  • Towards the end of practice, Quinton Maxwell threw a ball to Noah Hoffman, who was running a post route. Hoffman ran right into Solich, who took a hard tumble. Solich got up quickly, but not until everyone in attendance grew quite. He smiled and the team went nuts. Talking to him after practice, he said it was a dumb move to have his back turned to the play. Solich is entering his 14th year and is almost 74 years old, but he shakes off a hit better than some of his players. 
  • Former safety Grant Cunningham was in attendance at practice. He was a viral star at the Bahamas Bowl with this tweet:



  • Sook Center update: Workers seemed to be inside during Saturday’s practice. Almost all of the construction on the outside is finished, now its a rush to make sure the interior is set for Sept. 1. 
  • It was fan day at Peden, the Unity Council had post-practice autograph session. 

Passing Game

  • Nathan Rourke was 19 of 23 in five periods of passing (three team and two 7-on-7). He completed passes to Papi White and Cam Odom (four each); DL Knock (three); AJ Ouellette, Ryan Luehrman and Adam Luehrman (two each); Willie Cherry and Maleek Irons (one each). 
  • There were a few great catches that came on Rourke passes. He threw one up in the air to White on the left side of the field and White made a very acrobatic catch. Rourke also had a pass intended to Knock, which was tipped, but Knock repositioned himself and grabbed the ball. 
  • Since there was no contact Saturday there seemed to be a larger emphasis on Rourke using his legs. He scrambled three times on the day. 
  • Quinton Maxwell was 15 of 19 in four periods. He ran the ball six times. Many people forget that Maxwell is more than capable of scrambling if needed. He may not be as agile as Rourke, but he can evade a few defenders if necessary. 
  • Darfnell Gouin, Bryan Long and Markel Davis each dropped a ball. 

Special Teams

  • The Bobcats spent time Saturday on kickoff. It was a walk through pace, but just more preparation for the season opener. 

NEXT UP:

The Bobcats return to practice Monday at 8:40 a.m. after an off day Sunday. It’s open to the public. 

@Pete_Nakos96

pn997515@ohio.edu

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