The Bobcats practiced Friday afternoon for the final time during fall camp. It was conducted in periods outside in Peden Stadium, with a total of 25 periods over two hours and 30 minutes. The Bobcats wore full pads. Here are The Post’s observations:
ATTENDANCE
Absent: Elijah Ball (season-ending injury), Austin Conrad (leg), Tyler Tupa (leg), Javon Hagan (undisclosed), Mason Bernhardt (undisclosed), Jerome Buckner (knee), Jalen Fox (undisclosed), Jamal Hudson (hamstring), De’Vante Mitchell (undisclosed), Chukwudi Chukwu (undisclosed).
Limited: Joe Anderson (undisclosed), Hagen Meservy (undisclosed), Andrew Meyer (hamstring).
Notes:
- Meyer and Tupa went through drills for the second straight day and caught some passes with the receivers.
- Coach Frank Solich said after practice that there’s some concern on Hagan’s status for the season opener against Howard on Sept. 1.
OBSERVATIONS
Sights and Sounds
- Sook Center update: Workers were finishing installing lights on the bottom floor outside on the pavillion. Everything from the outside looks like it’s days away from being ready. Gates have been installed as well.
- For about three or four periods, the offense went into Walter Fieldhouse for a private practice session.
- Multiple players have shaved off their hair. It started with the offensive line because of Joe Lowery’s struggle to grow hair. It’s spread throughout the team and includes A.J. Ouellette. Nathan Rourke joked that Nick Sink has the worst haircut.
- Solich confirmed that with the conclusion of the Bobcats 2018 camp, he’s had to of coached in 49 or 50 fall camps between high school and college. That’s impressive.
Passing game
- Rourke was 5 of 5 in team drills against the top defensive unit. Of the 16 practices that statistics were tracked, Rourke finished camp with three of his lightest workloads. The most pass attempts came in week two. Rourke was 182 of 247 (73.7 percent) in camp with three interceptions in fall camp.
- Rourke completed passes to Maleek Irons, Markel Davis, Papi White, Ryan Luehrman and Cam Odom in his final day of practice.
- White finished camp with a team-high 30 receptions from Rourke in team and 7-on-7 drills. Ouellette led all running backs with 13 receptions from Rourke and Ryan Luehrman led all tight ends with 10. Other notable connections with Rourke was Andrew Meyer (20 receptions), DL Knock (15 receptions) and Odom (27 receptions).
- Quinton Maxwell was 3 of 5 in team drills and finished camp 140 of 214 (65.4 percent) with two interceptions. He has remained the backup without any competition from Joe Mischler or Drew Keszei.
- Solich commented after practice and said that at the end of camp, Mischler is the third-string quarterback. Him and Keszei will continue to practice with the Bobcats’ offense and scout team.
Running backs
- The depth chart at this position is set one through three. Solich said O’Shaan Allison has been a nice addition and will see time along with Jake Neatherton and David Burroughs as a third-stringer.
Defensive notes
- On the last day of camp, the turnover belt was not used. This may be attributed to a minimal passing game, decreasing the opportunity of interceptions.
- Knock and a corner back exchanged words and threw a few punches at each other during one-on-one work. Both were sent to run stairs.
- There were also no pass deflections or breakups in the final day of camp.
Special teams
- In the two allotted periods, time was spent on punt and kickoff. With game week approaching, field goal and extra point will be mixed in as well.
NEXT UP
This concludes the series of camp reports. Ohio wraps up fall camp Saturday morning with a few meetings and starts preparing for Howard after classes on Monday. Kickoff is Saturday at 2 p.m. at Peden Stadium. Stick to www.thepostathens.com for game coverage this week.
