URI holds its spring practice, including the annual Blue-White game

SOUTH KINGSTOWN — The following 4 months will lead the College of Rhode Island to a single objective getting into its 2022 soccer marketing campaign. 

The Rams are in quest of yet one more win. That was the distinction between a primary FCS playoff berth since 1985 and watching the postseason play out from the sidelines.  

URI capped its spring practices with its annual Blue-White Recreation on an ideal spring Saturday morning at Meade Stadium. The protection captured a 49-35 victory over the offense utilizing a modified scoring system. They will all be again collectively at Stony Brook on Sept. 1. 

“We’re a greater soccer group now than after we began,” URI coach Jim Fleming stated. “That was the expectation.” 

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The Rams held out a handful of notable gamers for precautionary causes. The headliner was redshirt senior quarterback Kasim Hill, who enters the autumn because the clear alternative to start out. Hill totaled greater than 2,400 yards and 24 touchdowns in 11 video games final season, serving to lead URI to a 7-4 total mark. 

“We all know what we have now as a beginning quarterback,” Fleming stated. “We wished to see who may compete to be within the backup position coming into the autumn. Now it’s a query of placing it collectively, constructing their our bodies all through the summer season and coming into coaching camp.” 

Junior faculty switch Kennique Bonner-Steward began rather than Hill and threw a 9-yard landing cross to Paul Woods. Sophomore backup Jackson Burkhalter gives skilled measurement at 6 toes 5 inches and 225 kilos. Trevor Nored completed 2-for-6 passing in his debut as a freshman. 

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Former Shea Excessive star Jaylen Smith ripped off a 50-yard landing run on considered one of his six carries. The Rams had an Interscholastic League really feel to their backfield on this one — former North Kingstown standout Gabe Sloat and former Westerly star Rocco Cillino mixed for 58 yards on 20 carries. URI is awaiting the return of Kevin Brown Jr., the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Yr within the spring 2021 season who has undergone a pair of knee surgical procedures inside the final 12 months. 

“He is not going to hit till we get into coaching camp,” Fleming stated. “He’s on monitor to be absolutely cleared at that time limit.” 

Sophomore linebacker Michael Strachan supplied the spotlight for the protection with an interception. How the Rams reacted to that play stated one thing to defensive coordinator Jack Cooper — URI’s veterans celebrated as if they’d simply gained a convention championship. Cole Brockwell and Gabe Salomons every recorded a pair of tackles for loss and Westley Neal Jr. blocked a area objective along with his 3.5 tackles. 

“What I’m most happy with is when these older guys get enthusiastic about that freshman making that play,” Cooper stated. “That’s after we know the tradition is in the proper path. They’re getting extra enthusiastic about their teammates making the play than themselves.  

“They’re not having a egocentric demeanor. It’s enormous when a younger man could make a play — it is powerful of their first spring.” 

What can the Rams realistically count on in opposition to league foes? The convention underwent a significant shakeup within the offseason. Perennial bully James Madison has elevated to the Solar Belt and the FBS stage — Hampton and Monmouth have each been added. 

“There was quite a bit to study off it,” Fleming stated. “I really feel we achieved what we wished.” 

bkoch@providencejournal.com    

On Twitter: @BillKoch25