Football | 3/26/2015 1:24:00 PM

VIDEO: Practice Report | Photo Gallery | Spring Roster | 2015 Schedule | Buy Tickets

STATESBORO, Ga. –  Like a number of Eagles, senior cornerback Caleb Williams is using spring practice to solidify his role on a defense that has eight starters back from a unit that gave up a Sun Belt Conference best 23.4 points a game last season.

The departing senior class left some holes in the secondary, and Williams is trying to prove he is ready to step in at cornerback.

"Caleb has great character, does everything right and is very conscientious in everything he is doing," said defensive coordinator and secondary coach Jack Curtis. "The thing I've seen this spring is more comfort with the position and how much he's picked up, learned and retained from last season."

A junior transfer from Trinity Valley Community College, it has taken a little while for him to make the adjustment to FBS football.

"Coming from a JUCO, the speed is a lot faster so I had to jump in and grind and get the pace with these guys," said Williams.

He played in seven games and made 10 tackles in 2014 and picked off a pass and returned it 28 yards in the season opener at NC State. 

Along with an increased role on the field, comes an increased role as a senior leader. Williams admits that he is the type who leads by example.  

"I'm not really a talker, I just like to play my part and do my job," he said.

To avoid some rain in the forecast for Friday, Georgia Southern moved its second spring practice to Thursday on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek. Dressed in shorts, jerseys and helmets, the Eagles went through a 25-period session on a cool, cloudy, and breezy afternoon.

Saturday's workout is slated for 10 a.m. on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek. 

Remaining Spring Practice Schedule
Saturday, March 28 - 10 a.m. - Eagle Creek
Monday, March 30
Wednesday, April 1
Friday, April 3
Saturday, April 4
Monday, April 6
Wednesday, April 8
Friday, April 10
Saturday, April 11
Monday, April 13
Wednesday, April 15
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18 – Spring Game
 

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Second Annual Tailgate Cook-Off Set for Football Spring Game
Register for Tailgate Cook-Off
Do you put on the best tailgate? Do you grill up the best BBQ? Maybe you make a mean peach cobbler?  Show Georgia Southern and Eagle Nation your skills at the Second Annual Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off April 18 at Paulson Stadium. Tasting begins at 11 a.m.

The top-place tailgate and grill masters will claim the title of 2015 Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off Champion, a one-of-a-kind trophy, a one-night stay at a hotel plus 2 tickets to the Georgia Southern vs. Georgia game in Athens Nov. 21, 2015, and of course, bragging rights. "True Blue Barbecue," Adam Pace and Jared Brown, won the inaugural Tailgate Cook-Off last year.

To enter the contest, a team or individual must register online by April 14 and pay a $20 cash fee per entry on site April 18. All teams or individuals are responsible for providing their own food and equipment for grilling/cooking and will be allowed only one vehicle inside the cook-off zone. Participants are encouraged to grill, cook, steam, etc. their best food for fans to enjoy. 

Eagle fans are invited to serve as tasting judges for $3 to enter the tailgate zone, sample the food and complete a ballot to determine the top four. Scores from the tasting judges will be calculated and winners will be announced during the Blue-White Spring Football game. Tasting will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m.

The second-place winner will receive four tickets and two sideline passes to the home football game against Texas State Oct. 29, 2015, on ESPNU.  Third place will claim two tickets and two meal vouchers to the home football game against South Alabama Nov. 28, 2015.  Fourth place will walk away with an autographed football and Georgia Southern prize pack.  
 

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EFAA Raffle
The Eagle Football Alumni Association (EFAA) will be holding its Eighth Annual $10,000 Reverse Raffle & Auction Sat., April 18, at 5 p.m. in the Gene Bishop Field House at Paulson Stadium following the Blue & White Spring Game. 

There will be a silent and live auction, which will feature an array of items such as autographed memorabilia, vacation opportunities, once-in-a-lifetime Georgia Southern game experiences, vintage Georgia Southern Football memorabilia, autographed memorabilia from local professional teams and much more. In addition, the Third Edition Erk Russell Commemorative Shotgun will be auctioned off in the live auction. This year's theme for the shotgun is "Yellow School Buses." The final 10 tickets in the reverse raffle will be drawn after the live auction, and the final ticket will win $10,000.
    

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Eagle Pro Day
Twelve Georgia Southern football players went through various drills, tests and measurements at the Eagles' Pro Day at Paulson Stadium last Monday.

It was the first time the activities in a Georgia Southern Pro Day were centrally located with Paulson Stadium, the Rotary Corp. Field of Dreams and the Ted Smith Family Football Center housing the days' events. Scouts from six NFL teams and a CFL squad were on hand for Pro Day.

The day began at 10:30 a.m. on the rain-soaked turf of Glenn Bryant Field as each player ran the 40, and then the players and scouts made use of the synthetic turf on the Field of Dreams for more drills. Height and weight measurements as well as vertical jump, broad jump and bench press results were completed in the Ted Smith Family Football Center weight room. Players went back out to the stadium for a few more drills in a light drizzle.
 

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2015 Schedule
Georgia Southern will face two Power Five conference teams, four teams that played in bowl games a year ago and will host six home games in Paulson Stadium in 2015. The Eagles have also been selected to play two games on nationally-televised ESPNU Thursday night broadcasts.

All home games and all Sun Belt Conference games will once again air on the ESPN platform.

Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased by visiting GSEagles.com/tickets or calling 1-800-GSU-WINS.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Eagle fans can follow Coach Willie Fritz's twitter account @CoachWEFritz.