The football team wrapped up its spring practices this weekend with its annual spring scrimmage, giving the players and coaches a sneak peek at what the team could look like this fall.
For many players, this scrimmage marked the end of spring training and an opportunity to showcase how far this team has come and the progress it has made. For head coach Pete Lembo, it also highlighted the team's strengths and the weaknesses that still need improvement before the season starts.
Lembo said one of the team’s biggest strengths right now is in the backfield.
“We have a lot of experience coming back in the defensive secondary,” Lembo said. “That group played well throughout the course of the spring, probably our most consistent group.”
Although the team has many strong returning players, Lembo explained that most of this year's roster is still making adjustments. This year, the Bulls have welcomed many transfer players as well as a large group of freshmen, making this spring an important time for this team to improve and build chemistry.
“This is a young team,” Lembo said. “There’s 10 first-semester freshmen out here. There’s 19 transfers that have come from all different levels of college football.”
Due to these changes, Lembo said there are still several areas the team needs to improve before the season begins.
“Whether it’s the offensive line, figuring out the quarterback position, figuring out who our top five or six wide receivers are or our linebacker depth, there’s a lot of questions left to answer,” Lembo said.
While there is room for improvement, Lembo said he has been impressed by the team's culture and chemistry throughout spring practices.
“With all these new players, I feel good that we brought in good, high-character people. These guys have come together and enjoy their time around each other.”
This strong team chemistry has also created confidence among players heading into the upcoming season.
Senior wide receiver Chance Morrow said the team has made major progress throughout these spring practices and left the scrimmage feeling very optimistic about the Bulls' future season.
“I feel great,” Morrow said. “We still [have] a lot to improve, but I feel great coming out of this scrimmage.”
Morrow added that Buffalo's offense is an area he's particularly excited to see this season.
“I definitely say between our receiving room and our quarterback room, that’s very exciting for me,” Morrow said.
Senior linebacker SaVeon Brown expressed similar confidence.
“I think that we’re just trying to form our identity as a whole unit,” Brown said. “We put together a lot of different pieces, and I feel like we’re going to be good this year.”
Brown described the team as "resilient" and complimented his teammates for their hard work ethic throughout spring practices.
“Very hard-working group and just guys that love each other,” Brown said.
As the Bulls head into the summer, players and coaches will continue to prepare for the season opener on Sept. 3. While there is still work to be done, the Bulls' spring scrimmage showed a team that is confident and excited about what’s ahead.
The sports desk can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of the Myanmar Student Association
