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Kelton Leads Tigers In Spring Orchestra Of The Pigskin Dance

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The cool Friday morning air was cut by heavy sun, sweat and bodies moving across the field at Theodore A. Wright Stadium under the watchful eye of Head Football Coach Aaron Kelton.
 
One hundred and thirty nine days ago Savannah State football hung up their pads, closing the 2022 season 5-5 with a 44-38 win on home turf against Lane. It was Kelton's first season. Now, the Tigers are hungry again. And it's almost feeding time.
 
"I can do this all day if they'd let me," Kelton said watching his team. Following position drills Friday morning, the team broke into full defense on offense schemes, setting in the plays they will execute this fall.
 
To be back in practice jersey's, running drills and plays was exhilarating for everyone on the field. Every player spent his youth dreaming of that one chance to make a pivotal play. To go head-to-head on the gridiron and walk away victors. To hoist trophies—and in this day and age, to have highlights plastered across social media feeds.
 
"Everybody is feeling good," quarterback Jadon Adams said. "We've been working in the off season and so to get to spring practice, it was a good transition. We're ready to get the season started."
 
 
Friday was day two of the 2023 spring practice season. Following a closed practice on Wednesday, the Tigers went full bore in helmets and jerseys. They won't strap on full pads until March 31, but it was enough to just be out there, on the field, running the plays, working hard for that one chance.
 
Kyle Frazier, returning offensive lineman, chatted with his teammate about how to hit right on the line, how to keep that defensive lineman from breaking through. When the defense made a good play, forced a drop or got an early tag, blue jersey's across the field broke into cheers. 
 
"We're ready to get back out here," defensive lineman Jonathan Glover said. "We had a lot of young guys last year, but now we have experience under our belts. So it's time to come out and play hard. Five-and-five didn't leave a good taste. We need to improve that. It starts in practice. It starts in the spring."
 
The offense, in white jersey's, just kept grinding. Looking to make a play, to catch a ball, make a hole for the runner. Get a few inches, a few yards. They wanted first downs every play.
 
They are hungry for touchdowns.
 
This spring's squad is about 80 percent returners from last year's young team. But they aren't young anymore. They got plenty of experience and some big wins last year, including upsets against Fort Valley State and Lane in the final two games.
 
Joining them are a number of newcomers; freshman and transfers—including a new NCAA Division I transfer on the defensive side, who Kelton introduced to the team on Friday. 
 
Last season, Kelton was hired in April and hit the ground running with a team that wasn't his and a coaching staff he inherited. He still finished .500. But now, nearly a year later, he owns the field. He owns the stadium. His Tiger gear is snug. It fits him. This is his home now. 
 
During the off season, Kelton worked like a madman putting together a team he knows will give him the best shot at a title. He recruited over 30 kids earlier this year, strengthening the trenches which lost several key players to graduation.
 
His staff is in place, the same crew from last year, with the exception of Offensive Coordinator John Roberts, who left for a job in his native California a few weeks ago. Carl Funderburk will fill-in this spring, coaching the offensive line, until Kelton finds his permanent OC.
 
Funderburk brings decades of NCAA Division I experience to the Tigers as a former coach at North Carolina Central.  He also coached the offensive line at Savannah State beginning in 2010 when the school competed at the NCAA Division I level.
 
The Tigers will practice Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday for the next three weeks. On April 15, they will hold a scrimmage at 9 a.m. to close out the spring. Over the summer, the team will continue working out on their own, getting reps, and preparing for a new season of Savannah State football in September.
 
Gallery: (3-24-2023) 2023 Football Spring Practice | March 24

 
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Players Mentioned

Jadon Adams

#9 Jadon Adams

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Kyle Frazier

#55 Kyle Frazier

OL
6' 3"
Sophomore
Jonathan Glover

#49 Jonathan Glover

DL
6' 3"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jadon Adams

#9 Jadon Adams

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
QB
Kyle Frazier

#55 Kyle Frazier

6' 3"
Sophomore
OL
Jonathan Glover

#49 Jonathan Glover

6' 3"
Junior
DL