The UAB football team concluded spring practice Saturday morning with mixed reviews from the Blazers coaching staff, hosting a scrimmage at the Blazers’ Football Operations Center.

Trent Dilfer on his team's defense: I thought our (No.) 1 defense took huge strides this last week, like massive. It’s really been this whole week that the 1 defense has kind of pushed the offense around. You saw it today, our 1 offense was not very successful.

— Steve Irvine (@SteveIrvine04) April 6, 2024

“I thought our (No.) 1 defense took huge strides this last week, like massive,” head coach Trent Dilfer said, according to Steve Irvine on X. “It’s really been this whole week that the 1 defense has kind of pushed the offense around.

“Our 1 offense was not very successful.”

Defense has been a focus for the Blazers in spring camp. The 2023 unit was one of the worst in the country, giving up an average of 36.9 points and 435 yards per game. UAB held an FBS opponent below 30 points just once. 

To address the problem, Dilfer’s staff brought in several high-major transfers, including Georgia Tech safety Sirad Bryant, Indiana defensive lineman LeDarrius Cox, Purdue linebacker O.C. Brothers, and Georgia Tech edge Ezra Odinjor.

Dilfer spotlighted Cox after the spring game, calling him “dominant.” A 6-4, 305-pound redshirt senior, Cox played high school football at McGill-Toolen. He began his college career at Ole Miss, transferred to Indiana, and joined the Blazers in February. He is expected to anchor a Blazer defensive line that ranked 126th in the country in rushing yards allowed last year. 

“I think the personnel is better, we’ve said that. But, more importantly, the mentality is better,” Dilfer told Irvine. “I think we’ve really stressed getting off blocks, running to the football. Scheme does some things but defense you got to get aligned right, you got to know your assignment, you got to get off blocks, you got to run to the football.”

The first-team offense, led by returning quarterback Jacob Zeno, looked capable but did not dominate. The unit scored multiple touchdowns during their time on the field; they also allowed several backfield pressures and recorded a turnover. 

“I think today was largely representative of how the spring has been. I think there have been points where we probably played better up front,” offensive coordinator Alex Mortensenhe told Irvine. “There were some things today, where at the line of scrimmage, maybe we had a couple lapses.”

Mortensen said he was “really excited” about the receiver group, which loses two of its top three contributors but boasts a stockpile of young talent. Kam Shanks, a redshirt freshman  from Prattville, has drawn significant buzz this spring after several highlight-reel plays. 

https://twitter.com/UAB_FB/status/1773837947017539665

One of the fastest players on the team, the 5-8 receiver is nicknamed “Speedie.” He performed well in the spring game, making several impressive catches.

The Blazers hope to improve on what was one of the nation’s best offenses in 2023. Zeno threw for 3,126 yards, ranked second in the nation in completion percentage, and recorded 484 passing yards in a game against Florida Atlantic. The Blazers averaged nearly 30 points per game and ranked in the nation’s top 20 in yards per game.

The Blazers will host Alcorn State at Protective Stadium on Aug. 29.