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Football Reboots Spring Practice With Kelton At The Helm

Savannah, Ga.— One week following the announcement of his new position, Aaron Kelton took to the field at Theodore A. Wright Stadium on Tuesday to run his new team through their first spring practice together.
 
Under blue skies, Kelton conducted drills, testing each position, installing his phases of the game and making evaluations during his first day of coaching on the marsh.
 
Kelton was named the 27th head football coach last Tuesday, ending a four-month national search. Interim Head Coach Russell DeMasi had conducted one spring practice the Monday before the announcement was made. For the last week, the team has been lifting weights and gearing up to get back on the field.
 
Following a meeting with the team last Tuesday, prior to the public announcement, Kelton hit the ground running. He set a new practice schedule, rebooting the spring schedule this week, and begin his search for a coaching staff following the abdication of last year's staff—with the exception of volunteer coach, Nick Trist, who has been hired on as an assistant coach.
 
The Tigers will look to go three to four times a week in the coming two weeks before the practice season ends April 23, per NCAA regulations. Savannah State opened with helmets, but will work towards full pads and full contact over the next two weeks, ending with a controlled scrimmage.
 
"We're taking baby steps," Kelton told the media after practice. "We're installing two new phases of the game for them. It's a lot. With us just starting the process, we haven't had much time in terms of classroom meeting and those things. We did manage to get some things installed, which was great. Looked like good football, and it'll only get better."
 
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Kelton inherits a program that went 16-6 through the last two years, including the first 8-2 overall mark since the mid-1990's. He also inherits a class of 30 plus recruits, who he will be reaching out to in the coming weeks. For now, Kelton is moving with the team he has and preparing them for the fall season.
 
"Their excitement was awesome," Kelton said. "They picked up things fast. It's a younger bunch than what's been here, so it's a teaching process that they're going through and they've really accepted the challenge."
 
"We're moving at just the right pace," quarterback J.T. Hartage said. "We are kind of behind but I feel like we can learn a lot in a short amount of time. I don't feel like it will be a lot on us."
 
Gallery: (4-12-2022) 2022 Spring Football Practice
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