Western Deep in X's & O's Through Nine Practices of Preseason

Since reporting to campus Tuesday (July 31), the Leathernecks have been deep in preparation.

MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois football team is nine practices into its 2018 slate. The season welcomed a new head coach, coaching staff, and several new student-athletes, but the mission remained the same – the Leathernecks will be relentless in their pursuit of success.

Since reporting to campus Tuesday (July 31), the team has been deep in preparation. They have been practicing in full pads for a week and will have their first official scrimmage (closed to the public) on Saturday.

"Camp has been really good. We've got a lot of work in, and we've had a lot of guys that are getting reps in, which is good," said Elliott. "Our effort and energy have been really good through the first eight days of practice. We're a long ways away execution wise; we've got to continue to clean up a lot of things on both sides of the ball, but that's what camp is for, we're seeing some of the guys make some major strides. And at this point, I'm encouraged, but we still have a lot of work to do."

Western returns a veteran core in all three phases - offense, defense and special teams - with the guidance of Missouri Valley Football preseason all-conference selections Sean McGuire (QB), Steve McShane (RB/RS), Khalen Saunders (DL), Justin Fitzpatrick (DB) and Quentin Moon (LB).

The senior honorees make up a larger group of 36 letterwinners that will be suiting up in purple and gold this season. Seventeen of those letterwinners come from the defensive side of the ball, but Coach Elliott has been impressed with the even nature of competition.

"There's been a lot of really good give and take, and when I say that I mean there's been some good back and forth between our offense and defense which is what you want to see. It's been very competitive and that challenges each unit and each side of the ball to really respond," he said. "It hasn't been a lopsided camp where one unit has just outplayed the other."

A large group of newcomers is using preseason camp as a way to get acclimated to the Western way. The fresh faces include 24 true freshmen and several transfers, who will join the Leathernecks from schools like Norfolk State, Ohio State, Duke, Coastal Carolina, Temple, and Robert Morris.

"It's always good to see the guys you recruit here in full pads and playing football. With the newcomers, it's been exciting to see how quickly some of these guys have improved as they start to learn our scheme and get comfortable with what we're doing. Over a week of time, a lot of guys are starting to make some really good jumps, some steps, in the right direction."

This Saturday, the team will be playing in its second preseason scrimmage, but it's first with officials. The game will run similar to a regular season matchup, giving the Leathernecks their first taste of in-game situations.

"That will change how we attack things a little bit because we're running personnel off and on the sidelines and the gameday communication level has to elevate a notch. The flow, and the tempo and the timing in which we're getting in and out of the huddle, and we're getting calls in, all those things are so critical and crucial for these types of mock-game scrimmages. We're excited to get out there and have the opportunity to run the situations."

The Leathernecks will have 24 practices under their belt before opening the season at Montana State on Thursday, Aug. 30.

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Players Mentioned

#30 Justin Fitzpatrick: DB; 6' 1"; Senior; Fort Zumwalt North

#18 Sean McGuire: QB; 6' 3"; Senior; Franklin

#5 Steve McShane: RB; 5' 8"; Senior; Freeport

#39 Quentin Moon: LB; 6' 2"; Senior; Pike

#99 Khalen Saunders: DL; 6' 2"; Senior; Parkway Central

Players Mentioned

#30 Justin Fitzpatrick
: 6' 1"; Senior; Fort Zumwalt North
: DB

#18 Sean McGuire
: 6' 3"; Senior; Franklin
: QB

#5 Steve McShane
: 5' 8"; Senior; Freeport
: RB

#39 Quentin Moon
: 6' 2"; Senior; Pike
: LB

#99 Khalen Saunders
: 6' 2"; Senior; Parkway Central
: DL