Head coach Jerome Souers instructs the Lumberjack secondary on proper presnap positioning for the different coverage schemes NAU will be running in the fall. - Jacob Petersen/ The Lumberjack

The Northern Arizona football team opened practice Thursday, April 2, in hopes of returning in the fall stronger, faster and better. With returning seniors and freshly trained newcomers, the 2009 season looks to have a mixture of experienced players and ready-to-learn rookies.

Senior linebacker Stevon Thomas views the upcoming season as a comeback year for the Lumberjacks. Thomas emphasized his readiness to snatch victories from rivals such as Montana State. 

“So far this year we have been focusing a lot on takeaways, more explosion hits and making sure we get for-sure tackles; that’s one of the main techniques were learning so far this spring,” Thomas said.

The passing game will feature a new quarterback in junior Michael Herrick. Herrick beat out fellow junior Corey Slater for the job and admits his hard work is finally paying off. 

“I put on like 12 to 15 pounds,” Herrick said. “I think I want to try and put on five more, because that was my goal this season. I mean, I didn’t play a full season last year, but I took some hits, and I felt my body get a little bit tired, and I knew I had to put on some weight.”

Herrick saw action in 10 games last season, completing almost 65 percent of his passes — converting 97 throws in 150 attempts with three touchdowns. Herrick returns as one of four quarterbacks on the roster, joining junior college transfer Ryan Nelson and redshirt freshmen Troy Graham and Cary Grossart.

Running Back Bill Clifford takes a hand-off and heads upfield during NAU's first football practice of the 2009 season. - Jacob Petersen/ The Lumberjack

As players are beginning to become familiar with their positions, the team as a whole is benefitting.

“It felt good; our relationships are a bit stronger now,” Herrick said. “We got to know each other a little bit better, so we are having fun. Everyone’s got each other’s back. The main thing was focusing on what specific job everyone has to do — knowing other people’s jobs so I can help and just keep offense moving in the right direction and hopefully have some success.”

NAU’s defense took a hit with the loss of defensive coordinator Corey Batoon and cornerback coach Carl Franks, but players are viewing it as a chance to improve and work that much harder toward their goal.

“Since we have a lot of veterans returning, I don’t think it would be much of a drop-off,” Thomas said. “Our coaches know the defense in and out so they will be able to show us what we need to know.” 

The Lumberjacks will return 14 starters and 44 letter-winners as head coach Jerome Souers returns for his 12th season with new offensive assistant Chris Taylor.

From 2001-04, Taylor aligned himself with the Steelers, Rams and Titans, and is said to be focusing primarily with the Lumberjack’s running backs.

“We came into spring football prepared to work on some things fundamentally and improve our techniques that we’ve used, so we’re keeping things fairly simple,” Souers said. “We have quite a few new faces to blend in and see where they’re at, so the first week has been primarily adjusting and getting a foothold.”

He believes the Lumberjacks are sure to put on a good show on the field in the upcoming 2009 season.

“I love the attitude of where they are at; the mentality is outstanding,” Souers said. “The offseason is paying us back. We have a stronger sense of clarity about what we do.”