Pack players happy to be back on field

Pack players happy to be back on field

BY DARRELL MOODY

It's been a little over two months since Nevada walked off the field at the New Mexico Bowl, victims of a 23-0 loss.

For some of Nevada's players that memory still burns, and getting back out on the field for spring practice is just the right medicine.

"It (the loss) still crosses the back of my mind," sophomore quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. "It was the first time in my life I'd ever been shut out. It's always going to be with me."

Kaepernick said spring practice, despite the short rest, means the long road of putting the team in a position to prove itself again.

No doubt Kaepernick feels like he'll have to prove himself again, too, though you can't ask for much more than Kaepernick gave Nevada last year.

Kaepernick, who started the final eight games of the season after Nick Graziano went down with a foot injury, passed for 2,175 yards and 19 scores in leading Nevada to four wins.

"He's a great quarterback," Kaepernick said of Graziano. "His (foot) injury is coming along well. I'm focusing on myself and getting ready for the upcoming season."

It's certainly a chance for Kaepernick to put some distance between himself and Graziano, who is being held out of spring drills.

Nevada coach Chris Ault said that the team is being cautious with Graziano, and that the screws in his foot are expected to come out the second week of March.

Ault said that Graziano has been watching a lot of film and is keeping up with the mental side of the game.

Ault said it will be a critical spring for redshirt freshman Luke Collis and Tyler Lantrip, who is back with the team after undergoing back surgery last season. Lantrip played in the spring, but the injury worsened, and he wasn't with the team when summer practice started.

Both are expected to get plenty of reps and pick up more knowledge about the Pack's pistol offense. Kaepernick's ability to stay healthy meant that Nevada was able to redshirt Collis.

Ault also said he was happy to get back on the field.

"It's been a long two months," Ault said. "We had six months of winter conditioning and the kids did well. They were excited about getting out here and getting back to work."

Ault said he's entering spring practice with two main objectives - creating competition and depth, and fixing what was a leaky pass defense last season. Also, he wants the offense to build on last season.

Nevada has two new defensive coaches - defensive coordinator Nigel Burton, who coached at Oregon State last season, and James Ward, who will coach the cornerbacks.

"We have a new defensive staff [with] new and different thoughts," Ault said.

Nevada lost starting cornerbacks Paul Pratt and Devon Walker to graduation. Doyle Miller and Kenny Viser, a former Manogue star, return at the corners. Antoine Thompson, a junior college transfer, is expected to challenge for playing time in the summer. Returnee Jon Amaya played some cornerback last season, but he's probably better at safety.

Uche Anywanu started at safety last season. Adam Liranzo and Mike Samples also are back. Maurice Harvey and Dayton Guillory, a pair of JC transfers, are also expected to see action at safety.

• Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281