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#UAPBFootball Begins Preseason Camp

8/5/2022 6:54:00 PM

Pine Bluff, AR. - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football training camp is here and the Golden Lions took the practice field for the first time this preseason on Thursday morning.

The team learned valuable life lessons in real time in 2021: Players dropped with injuries, seemingly one after another and almost weekly, as the program was coming off a tough season after appearing in the spring 2021 SWAC Championship game.

The team's biggest takeaway from all of it? Never take anything for granted.

A total of 101 student-athletes reported to camp this week and the Golden Lions brought a ton of energy to the practice field as preparations began for the upcoming season. Thursday's practice began at 9 a.m. at Simmons Bank Field and consist of 24 periods in helmets and shorts

"It was a little fast for the new guys and the older guys are going to be who they are because they're comfortable with what's going on," said UAPB head coach Doc Gamble as he discussed the first day of practice. "We wanted to throw a lot of things at them early to see who can manage it because things will eventually slow down at some point. This was a typical first day, but it was exciting to be back."

Over the course of the summer, several Golden Lions have earned preseason honors.  Earlier this week, graduate offensive lineman Mark Evans II was tabbed to the Stats Perform FCS All-America Third Team and BoxToRow HBCU All-America First Team.

On August 4, the Golden Lions had seven student-athletes named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC Team. Evans and Beard were named to the First Team, and junior linebacker Timon Akins was named to the Second Team along with Sanchez and Reny. Senior quarterback Skyler Perry and redshirt junior offensive lineman Noah Hayes was named to the Third Team.

On July 21, Evans, junior linebacker Monroe Beard III, snapper Thomas Reny, redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Athen Smith, and senior punter Josh Sanchez received SWAC Football preseason honors. Evans, Beard, Sanchez, Reny, were all named to the SWAC All-Conference First Team and Smith was named to the Second Team.

On July 14, Evans was named to the East-West Bowl 1,000 list.

"The good thing about coaching Evans is that he's disciplined on his approach; he does it right every single time when he steps on the field. "Evans takes coaching well, even though he had various coaches throughout his career, he's adapted to each one of them and takes every coach nugget and puts it in his toolbox, which makes him better every year," said coach Gamble on Mark Evans II preseason accolades.

UAPB is back on the field tomorrow for practice in helmets and shorts beginning at 9 a.m.

The Golden Lions are set to kick-off the 2022 season on Saturday, September 3, at 6 p.m. against Lane College at Simmons Bank Field.

Tickets are on sale now to be a part of the action at the "Lion's Den" (Simmons Bank Field).

#1Team1ROAR

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