TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Kerwin Bell is ready to get his first season underway in red and black. On Monday, Bell and the Valdosta State Blazers took step number one in doing that as they kicked off fall camp.
The Blazers split practice Monday morning, with older guys going first before the near sixty new players took the field. Bell said no position on the team is promised, and he expects a lot of competition as camp gets going.
"They've really started to trust what we're doing. They believe in what we're doing, and that'll go a long ways," said Bell of the returners, players he said will be key in the development of the team. "They need to show these new guys, these young freshman, what it takes to be a Valdosta State Blazer, and that's a lot of tradition, going about your business the right way on and off the field, and I really believe that's going to get done."
One of the positions most important to Bell? Quarterback, a spot he said is key in getting the offense to run correctly. Bell added two guys, Adam Robles and Roland Rivers, are the main athletes competing for the starting spot, and whoever wins it, will have big expectations.
"That's our whole offense is the way our quarterback goes. They have to play at a very high level," said Bell. "It takes a very intelligent guys, a guy who has the intangibles that knows how to play the position, and then on top of that, you have to have the physical ability to get it done."
"The team goes how the quarterback goes," added Rivers. "It's up to me to be up tempo and just show the coaches that I can lead. That's the most important thing. The troops they have to be confident in their leader."
Valdosta State kicks off the season Saturday September 3rd against Albany State.
