Aug. 10, 2005

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After reporting to camp, receiving their team handbooks and going through meetings earlier in the week, the JU football team made its way onto the practice field on Wednesday at 3 p.m. for the first step towards the 2005 season. During the two and a half hour session, the Dolphins displayed several weapons on offense and defense, while also suffering through expected miscommunications and miscues. The highlights of practice were on display during the full-team scrimmage and 7-on-7 skeleton sessions. The squad will continue to practice in shorts and helmets only until Saturday, Aug. 13. The following is some highlights from Day 3:

Team Scrimmage (Offense vs. Defense) Round 1: Redshirt freshman quarterback Cory Johns played with the starting unit and completed a nice 15-yard out to senior receiver Eldin Ferguson...Johns also connected with senior receiver Julio Santiago on a 20-yard fade rout down the left sideline...senior running back Chad Davis, who bulked up seven pounds during the offseason, also played with the first team and looks completely healed from the knee injury which forced him to sit out last season...redshirt junior guard Josue Sanchez also looks completely healthy after a season ending knee injury last year...senior defensive end Jason Bense knocked down a pass during the session...redshirt sophomore Christopher Horton took snaps with the second team and had his first pass attempt intercepted for a touchdown by redshirt freshman free safety Jacob West...Horton did settle down with a nice out pass to senior receiver Matthew Kampfe.

7-on-7 Skeleton Sessions (Offense vs. Defense) : The Dolphin starting defense took control early by sending the first team offense off the field in three plays...senior cornerbacks Leighton Henderson (two) and Sterling Randolph each knocked down pass attempts by Cory Johns to the outside...Johns finished the session going 4-for-10 with an interception to senior strong safety Bernard Opoku...Christopher Horton showed improvement in the skeleton session by completing 5-of-8 passes, including a 40-yard touchdown strike to senior receiver Edrian Rogers on a seam route...seniors Eldin Ferguson and Julio Santiago and sophomore Joe Mangels each finished with two receptions during the session...Santiago also made an impressive slide catch on a post across the middle...in the other session heading the opposite way, freshman quarterback Chance Wilms connected with freshman receiver Geavon Tribble on a touchdown strike...redshirt freshman receiver Dan Petillo also made a nice leaping grab down the left sideline.

Team Scrimmage (Offense vs. Defense) Round 2: The Dolphins practiced on the run game more in the second round with the defense only grabbing at the shoulders and letting the backs run through...senior fullback Steven Battle is in great shape and will be expected to handle more of the load in 2005...redshirt junior Jerry Brant is also running well and showing off a few more pounds of muscle...quarterback Cory Johns didn't fare as well in the second round with the starting unit by going 0-3...quarterback Christopher Horton finished 2-for-3 with the second team, including a touchdown strike to sophomore receiver Nathan Conner through two Dolphin defenders...senior defensive lineman Ben Jones returned a fumble for a touchdown after recovering a bad snap from center...sophomore quarterback Anthony Salgado also completed 2-of-3 passes, including a touchdown pass to freshman receiver Jesse Taylor...Taylor also scored on an option toss from Salgado in the final play of the scrimmage.

The Dolphins will return to the practice field at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Key Dates:

August 13 - First practice in pads, 3:00 p.m.

August 18 - Media/Picture Day: 2 p.m. at Milne Field

August 19 - First scrimmage, 2:30 p.m.

August 23 - First day of classes

September 1 - First game at Southeastern Louisiana at 7:30 p.m.