Two-a-days practice began for 90 Millsaps College football players Tuesday (Aug.16) under typical summer sun in Mississippi. Precautions were instituted by the sports medicine staff to help the record number of players cope with the sweltering heat.

Several players have looked sharp early on in practice. Sophomore QB Raymece Savage has solidified the fact that he is ready to lead the Majors offense and sophomore running backs Tyson Roy and Eryc Lorino as well as junior Anthony Parker have played well.

Receivers Louis Conley (Soph), Matt Foisy, Morris McCaskill, Eric McCarty and Collie Griffith, all four freshmen, have looked sharp and have shown good speed among others.

The offensive line is showing stability with juniors Conell Phillips, Jay Buck and Charles Gordon and sophomore Robert Beidenharn returning and a few freshman have shown they could provide depth. Andres Wallace, Eric Hutchinson, Britt Shore will all find playing time on the O-Line.

Sophomore Nick Madison and senior Jeep Darnell have shown good hands and solid blocking at the tight end position.

But the most recognizable difference in the 2005 Majors is the defense. Finishing second in the SCAC in total defense in 2004 with many of the same players back and learning Mike DuBose's defense, the Majors could improve on that mark.

D-Linemen David Cutter (Sr), Rahman Lockhart (Jr), Sherwood Collette (Sr), Cedrice Lawrence (Soph), and Casey Younger (Soph) are taking to the system and linebackers Ross Rutledge (Sr), Ronnie Wheat (Soph), JJ Gilmore (Jr), and Rudy Kirkpatrick (Soph) seem tailor-made for DuBose's defense.

The defensive backfield has shown improvement throughout camp. Josh Hanna (Jr), Ray Kline (Soph), Marcus Harris (Fr), Bryan Villa (Jr), Lee White (Fr), and Jacob Hanberry (Fr) all showed the coaches that they are ready to play.