ABILENE -- The ACU Wildcats will work under the lights for the first time this summer Thursday night when they go through a controlled scrimmage at Shotwell Stadium.
The scrimmage will get started with special teams work at 8 p.m., followed by offense vs. defense. The Wildcats, ranked No. 7 in the country by the American Football Coaches' Association, will open the season on Sept. 4 at No. 10 Washburn (Kan.).
While the No. 1 offense will work against the No. 1 defense for "about 20 plays," according to ACU head coach Chris Thomsen, most of the scrimmage will be dedicated to getting the newest faces on the Wildcat roster some extensive work.
Thomsen said there are several freshmen and transfers who have caught the eye of the coaching staff, and those are the players they're most anxious to see in a game-type atmosphere.
"
T.R. Varnado (freshman from Stephenville) has really played well on the defensive line, and we want to see more of him (Thursday)," Thomsen said. "All of our transfer defensive backs are playing well, and we'd like to get a look at those guys and see how those positions are going to shake out.
"On the offensive line, (freshman)
Logan Hoppenrath is a guy we're looking at potentially playing a big role this year," Thomsen said. "And (transfer guard)
Dylan Blount has really come on and is playing well in camp. He's going to be a good player for us."
As for the play of quarterbacks
Mitchell Gale and
Clark Harrell, Thomsen said, "both have improved somewhat, but we really need to see them take a step (Thursday)."
