Football April 23, 2022

FOOTBALL WRAPS SPRING SESSION WITH BLUE/WHITE SHOWCASE

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Monmouth University's football team wrapped the 15 practices from the 2022 Spring session with a 90+ play intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at Kessler Stadium.

"It was a great ending to a very productive Spring," said Head Coach Kevin Callahan. "Over the course of the 15 practices we had, we grew a lot as a team and I thought we showed a significant improvement in a lot of areas. Because we have many young players who haven't been on the field before I think it was important that we had that growth. We are not ultimately where we want to or need to be but I think we created a really good foundation that we can easily build on."

The defense dominated early with an three-and-out including a sack but freshman wideout TJ Speight caught his first of two touchdown passes on the second drive of the game. Speight beat the defender and freshman quarterback Enzo Arjona threw a perfect pass.

NOTES & QUOTES
"As a program, coaches, players, every aspect of everything we do, we all have to take a step forward. We're going to one of the elite FCS conferences. That's where we're playing now and we have to make sure we're ready, so we all have to step up our games. It's quality opponents week-after-week." – Head Coach Kevin Callahan

I've been a part of two championship teams and no team has worked like this team has worked. No team has dedicated itself in the weight room and the film room in the off season like this one. TG, Lon and Tredway were great players but Coach Kevin Callahan (JR) and the rest of the guys have been working really hard to put is in the best position as possible, changing the gameplan around our players. We've been working hard to build the chemistry with Tony (Muskett) and we will be ready to go." Senior wideout Joey Aldarelli

"We have great leadership on the defensive side of the ball and we go things going after starting out slow this Spring. Right now it's a full head of steam, I want everyone on the same page this summer, we have to work. We're going into one of the best FCS conferences in the country and we gotta work." Junior Tyrese Wright

Monmouth defensive lineman Justin O'Bannon stopped a redzone drive on an interception which he returned past midfield
The offensive line cleared the way on the ground as Monmouth's three-headed monster of Juwon Farri, Owen Wright and Jaden Shirden had productive days
Wright ended the scrimmage by breaking open a run and scoring on the last play
Quarterback Tony Muskett threw the other touchdown pass to Speight
Placekicker Vincenzo Rea connected on four long field goals, including a 52 yarder, a 47 yarder and a pair of 42 yard field goals
The Hawks had a pair of players compete for the first time since last spring in all-conference performers DaQuan Grimes and Justin Szuba. Szuba and Grimes both suffered season ending injuries prior to the start of the 2021 season.

NEST NOTES

A number of alumni returned to the game including Mike Basile, Will Holder, Anthony Budd, Justin Terry, Agbai Iroha, Reggie White Jr. and Alex Thompson
The teams were without standouts Zamon Robinson, Nick Shoemaker and Dymere Miller
The catch of the spring came on the hands of Andre Tucker who made a leaping one-handed grab in traffic. Tucker returned to Monmouth after spending time at Shippensburg
Monmouth will open its inaugural season of the Colonial Athletic Association on Thursday, September 1, 2022.
It will be the 30^th season of Monmouth Football