From Caple:
After redshirting in 2017, Bynum had offseason surgery to repair the injured thumb on his right hand, and entered his redshirt freshman season “a little timid … kind of just laying low, staying behind.” He appeared in 10 games but did not record a statistic.
“I was just thinking too much about trying to catch the ball, overcompensating, because I had surgery on my thumb,” Bynum said. “Now, I feel like I’ve got my hand strength back, so now I’m catching the ball like (it’s) second nature and not thinking too much.”
Bynum said new receivers coach Junior Adams emphasizes exactly that: Just go play.
“Basically, he’s told us to have fun,” Bynum said. “Don’t go out there trying to think too much. Go out there and, like, talk stuff against the defense. Just have fun. We’re not out there just lackadaisical. It’s actually a fun energy.
“He’s telling us to make plays and not just be like mannequins. He wants us to have energy and have something to us, a little edge about us.”
Other notes:
- Haener threw a pick six to Taylor, and near interceptions to Wellington and Cam Williams.
- Haener also threw the only TD of the day to Ozzy! who beat Cook on a 48 yard TD.
- Eason went 4-8 with the 1 offense against the 1 defense, drew 2 offsides, and the highlight was a bullet to Otton with Gordon draped on him.
- Bynum listed Spiker as the young receiver who will impress everyone this year.
- 1st team defense was CB Taylor, CB Gordon, NB Molden, S McKinney, S Bryant, ILB Wellington, ILB Manu, OLB Tryon, OLB Bowman, and then a constant rotation of 2 down linemen featuring pairings of Levi and Clark, Scrempos and Tuli, Bronson and Taki.
- Tafisi and Sirmon are always a pair for the 2nd team ILB, and Ulofoshio took reps outside again.
- 1st team OL was Trey, Watty, Norgaard, Jax, and Hilbers. Harris not hurt, just getting others work since no one has experience.
- 2nd team OL was Mele, Ale, Luciano, Roberts, Bain.
- In addition to Fuller/Jones/Pounds, Players held out were: Bandes, Rice, ZTF, Irvin, Ah You, and Paama.
- Henry made both FG attempts with extra leg.
