West Long Branch, NJ- With 11 practices and a showdown with Western Michigan just over 14 days away Coach Callahan and the Hawks prepare for their first scrimmage tomorrow.
 
"I have to give our guys a lot of credit this is the point in camp where you start the feel the cumulative effect of all the days of contact," said Monmouth Head Coach Kevin Callahan. "Our guys have really responded to that in a positive way. They come out with a lot of energy, their attention to detail is excellent, they are working very hard and competing. As long as we bring that attitude and that mindset to the field every day, we are going to make the progress that we are looking to make."
 
HAWKS TAKE TO THE BEACH
Yesterday a group of players, members of the Marketing Staff and Coach Callahan used the time after practice to head up to the Long Branch beaches up near Pier Village and invite people out to tomorrow's scrimmage and games all year – you can watch a quick video recap of that on the link above.
 
GATES OPEN AT KESSLER FOR OPEN SCRIMMAGE TOMORROW
Fans can get their first glimpse of the Hawks at tomorrow's open scrimmage, starting at 1 PM at Kessler Stadium.

• Admission is free, gates open at 12 PM
• There is a free autograph session with selected players who will be signing 2019 Schedule Posters
• Season ticket holders can pick up their tickets
• Single game tickets will be on sale at the Miles Austin Box Office
• The team will run approximately 90 plays

 
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LINEBACKERS

• There is a lot of youth on the linebacking group with Evan Powell coming in as the only senior using his last season of eligibility. The Marlton, NJ native has appeared in 26 career games for the Blue & White, including seven starts. He has recorded 83 career tackles and was tied for first on the team last season with two.
• Da'Quan Grimes had a solid year for the Hawks after playing his first full season after suffering injuries as a freshman and sophomore. Grimes proved his worth on the field against FBS foe Eastern Michigan with eight tackles against the Eagles. He started five games last season, earning Big South Defensive Player of the Week once and recording a career-high 13 tackles against Princeton.
• Junior DeJaun Cooper is coming off an injury that limited him after a promising freshman campaign in 2017.  Cooper has started nine games for the Hawks while appearing in 23 contests and racking up 81 tackles. He had 49 tackles as a true freshman in 2017.
• Redshirt junior Solomon Manning is in his second season with the Hawks after transferring from Rutgers prior to last season. Manning appeared in all 11 games last season finishing with 10 tackles, including two for a loss.
• Returnees Matthew Griffin and Ben Joseph will add to the depth of the Hawks
• Monmouth brought in a large group of freshman to the position, highlighted by highly touted recruit Isaiah Bishop (HS teammate of Hawks DeJaun Cooper and Juwon Farri at Northwest HS) and Dale Sieczkowski from nearby Manalapan High School. Sieczkowski's older brother, John, was an All-Big South linebacker for Monmouth, playing from 2012-15.

Senior Evan Powell on the youth of the linebackers
"I know we've been practicing every day just having fun, being loud, running around.  We have a lot of younger guys out here. So far they have been very sound, when I was a freshman I didn't know as much as they do right now. Its good to know that we have players around here that know what they are doing."
 
Coach Callahan on the makeup of the linebacking group
"It's a good mix of guys on the defensive side. Evan Powell, Da'Quan Grimes guys like that are setting the tone and while they are doing that they are incorporating some of the younger players that we have. It's a good mix of experienced veterans and a very athletic youth and I think it's a combination of those two that's going to lead to success on the field"
 
HAWKS IN THE PROS … TONIGHT

• For the first time in program history Monmouth will have teammates on the same NFL team
• Reggie White Jr. and Jake Powell will suit up for the New York Giants tonight against the Chicago Bears
• White Jr. is coming off a four reception, 60 yard performance in the first preseason game
• Powell was picked up this week by the Giants after spending some of camp with the Saints

 
NEST NOTES

• Junior Derek Lora has switched sides of the ball going from offensive line to defensive line
• True freshman Jyair Thomas has slid back from linebacker to safety earlier this week. Thomas, one of the fastest freshmen on the team played safety at Boys Latin High School.
• The Hawks welcomed back quarterback Brandon Harris who missed all of spring and most of last season with a broken foot, suffered against Eastern Michigan
• The catch of the week came from Dre Tucker who one-handed a TD pass from Eddie Scott on Wednesday 

Q&A WITH FIFTH YEAR SENIOR KENJI BAHAR
What are your thoughts on the first two weeks of camp?
The level of competition has been high on both the offense and defense. We went five for five on a live period with the one's but the defense has been out there competing too. The effort and level of competition has been high all around.

Have you seen a difference in the defensive line this year?
KB They are playing well together. They are moving as one, Erik Massey coming back has been big. Guys are making plays and have a high level of intensity along the whole defensive line. Being on the other side of the ball, I can definitely tell how improved they are.

The number one question people ask is what are you going to do without Reggie White Jr, but people close to the program know there are a lot of talented receivers on this team. What do you say to them?
KB Obviously Reggie was an All-American but we have people who have a lot of experience like Lonnie Moore, Brandon Batts, Joey Aldarelli, Terrance Greene.  We have guys at receiver. They haven't had that 1,000 yard receiving season that Reggie had last year but they made plays last year.

Who is one wide receiver that you have developed solid chemistry with?
KB Me and Lonnie have been connecting for a lot of long plays out of the slot. He's one of those older guys that has to step up and we've been connecting a lot through the last few practices.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will be on the field of the first open scrimmage of camp tomorrow at 1 PM. Monmouth will host its annual media day on Monday after practice. Members of the media wishing to attend should RSVP to a member of the athletics communication department.


Follow Monmouth Football on Twitter and Instagram @MUHawksFB