First spring practice starts Tre Lamb era at ETSU

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – The university made the hire a few months back, but Monday’s first spring practice marked an official opening to the ETSU football season under first-year head coach Tre Lamb.

There was a buzz about the team as they flew around the turf at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.

For many in Blue and Gold it was the first practice on the gameday field, as Lamb and his staff welcomed 31 transfers into the program in the offseason.

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“You’re already lightyears ahead of where you would be if you signed 31 freshmen,” Lamb said. “They know the game, they’ve played football – they’ve played at this level.”

“I feel like we’re a step ahead right now because of that.”

There are also a number of key veterans that will continue to play a large role this season in Johnson City.

It’s a group that is still trying to form chemistry, but after watching Day 1 of spring ball, you would be hard-pressed to find obvious signs of a newly-formed team.

“We were very competitive, ready to go – created turnovers and had some big plays,” Lamb said after practice. “So, I’m absolutely pleased – that was A-plus for us. I’m not just telling you that. That’s one of the best first practices I’ve ever been a part of.”

“Honestly, you can’t really tell who’s new,” redshirt-sophomore wideout Tommy Winton III said. “I can’t tell which teammates I’ve had and which I haven’t because we’ve been working out together and bonding together. Going and doing things, eating together – anything you can think of – we’ve been together doing it.”

One of the squad’s top returning tacklers from a season ago, Sheldon Arnold II, also remarked just how quickly the guys are gelling together.

“You see pretty much everybody every day with workouts and stuff like that – so it helps, of course,” he explained. “But, it’s definitely happened kind of fast with the new teammates. It’s kind of new going into practice with someone else you haven’t really been around.”

Still, Arnold believes the new coaching staff has prepared the players well and enabled them to play fast from the jump.

“I feel like the young guys and everybody on the staff right now is doing a great job of coaching us up and letting us know what we’re supposed to be doing,” he said. “A new system is not easy – picking up on it. But, I feel like everybody around has been buying in.”

Monday marked the first of 14 spring practices for the Bucs, leading up to the Ballad Health Spring Game on Friday, April 19 at 7 p.m.

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