Spring Practice update

Coach Fuente took his squad through 19 periods of practice today and said that he was pleased with the way the team responded to having practice after already having played the spring game over the weekend.

Receiver Keiwone Malone was back out at practice after having been suspended internally by Fuente. Fuente addressed the questions regarding Malone's return by saying that "It is up to him (Keiwone). He has to do right every time. He is back but he needs to prove to everybody that this is important to him."

Fuente will work his squad through their final practice on Wednesday and indicated that they will go over more of what they should expect out of Thursday and Friday practices in the fall. The Tigers will be in just helmets for their final workout.

A great crowd turned out for the 2012 Blue-Gray scrimmage at the Liberty Bowl on Saturday. The Tigers have just two more practices of the NCAA-allowed 15 workouts for the spring session. They practice this afternoon and Wednesday afternoon before shifting the focus to the off-season conditioning that runs throughout the rest of spring and into summer.

Today we sat down with corner Bobby McCain and linebacker Reggis Ball before meetings to get their take on spring practice.

McCain played in 11 games and made nine starts at corner in 2011 as a true freshman. He logged 29 tackles, four pass breakups and a forced fumble in addition to a 79-yard interception return for a touchdown against Tulane. Ball, the brother of former Tiger safety Marcus Ball, redshirted last season partly because of an early injury he suffered in fall camp. Ball has been commended by several teammates this spring for his ability to grasp the system and for flying around on defense and making plays.