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Football Fall Camp Report: 'Do The Right Thing'

SAVANNAH, Ga. – One week into fall camp and the 2022 squad is taking shape under new head coach Aaron Kelton just ahead of the 120th year of football at Savannah State.
 
Over the last week, the team have had an introduction to their new coach, teammates and new schemes. The 102-man fall camp roster is almost an exact 50/50 split between returners and newcomers.
 
"We're throwing it at them pretty quickly, but they've been able to execute," Kelton told the media on Monday. "I told them to today, we're a little lethargic and we just have to be better mentally."
 
Kelton joined the program the day after spring practice begin in April. He took a couple of days to adjust and then hit the ground running. That sudden shift, he knows was not easy for the team. But they buying into the new era.
 
"It's about building the culture," Kelton said on Monday. "As they know from the spring, change is hard. Now it's here. We've all been chomping at the bit. They've really accepted everything and built an atmosphere that's great for everyone."
 
Freshman linebacker Ameer Phillips—a Savannah native and Beach High School graduate who was recruited prior to Kelton's hiring—independently echoed that sentiment.
 
"Honestly, I feel like everything is going great," Phillips told the media on Monday. "Coach Kelton is a great vibe for the team. He's bringing everybody together. It's a family."
 
This isn't Phillips' first time living on campus. He lived on the first floor in the Freshmen Living and Learning Center when he was two years old while his father, a Florida A&M graduate, was earning his master's degree at Savannah State.
 
"My commitment was to Savannah State not to the coach," Phillips said when asked about the coaching shift in the spring. "I feel like either coach would have been an ideal decision for me. I came for the school."
 
Phillips currently lives in the same dorm on the third floor.
 
Gallery: (8-8-2022) 2022 Football Fall Camp

 
In the locker room and on the field, Kelton has a new motto for this year: "Spike Lee." The reference is to the 1989 Spike Lee film, "Do The Right Thing."
 
"It means do the right thing and pertains to everything in life, on the field, off the field, Spike Lee," Kelton said. "You see our guys and say 'Spike Lee,' they will say 'Spike Lee.' Every day I try to come up with a quote or a boost to get them to think about this journey in a holistic way."
 
Kelton will also introduce a new offense this year that will resembled a pro-style RPO, instead of the run-heavy option the Tigers executed last year. Which means the quarterback position, now open to internal competition, will be even more important this year.
 
"We're going to throw the ball a lot more this year, but we're also going to run the ball like we did," sophomore quarterback JT Hartage told the media on Monday. "It feels great. That's what I am here for, to distribute the ball to my playmakers and it feels good to have that chance." 
 
Some of the starting positions were solidified in Kelton's mind in the spring, but everything is on the table at this point.
 
"It's going to be a fight at every position," Kelton said. "We started out with just simple evaluation. Who can contribute? Who can be a good SIAC player?"
 
Following the first week, three guys have moved into competition for the starting quarterback job. Hartage, who saw reps last year as a backup for D'Vonn Gibbons, is definitely a top choice. But just behind him are redshirt freshman, and Savannah native, Jadon Adams as well as Hampton University transfer Isaiah Robinson.
 
"I am impressed with what JT is doing right now," Kelton, a former quarterback, said on Monday. "Isaiah too, and Jadon has been fantastic. I would say those are the top three right now. The other freshmen are figuring it out. It's a tough position."
 
Kelton and the Tigers will continue practice six days a week as classes get underway on August 15 at Savannah State. They will hold a couple of scrimmages as well.
 
"There are a lot of guys who want to play football," Kelton said on Monday. "They are passionate. They want to be out here. They want to be part of what's going on. They want to impress the coaches so they get a chance."
 
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Players Mentioned

D

#3 D'Vonn Gibbons

QB
6' 3"
Junior
JT Hartage

#8 JT Hartage

QB
5' 10"
Freshman
Jadon Adams

#0 Jadon Adams

QB
6' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

D

#3 D'Vonn Gibbons

6' 3"
Junior
QB
JT Hartage

#8 JT Hartage

5' 10"
Freshman
QB
Jadon Adams

#0 Jadon Adams

6' 3"
Freshman
QB