Day one of spring football in the books

PROVO, Utah - The first preparations for the 2013 football season began with energy and enthusiasm on Monday night with the first practice of spring football.

"I think it’s probably the hardest our collective team has worked since I have been the coach so the demand was really, really high," head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "It was a typical first day in terms of lack of execution and so that tempo with that demand with a new system, the offense certainly has a long way to go in terms of execution. But it’s the hardest I thought they’ve tried, in terms of work ethic, since I can remember."

A new offensive staff combined with the veteran defensive crew brought a lot of intensity to the first day as players conditioned, ran drills and spent a good portion of the session in full 11-on-11 scrimmage time.

The running game took the focus in the first round of 11-on-11. Running back Adam Hine broke off a 20-yard run, returned missionary tailback AJ Moore got some work with back-to-back 4-yard gains and picked up a 22-yarder on another series.

Several quarterbacks got looks in team drills. Taysom Hill, Jason Munns, Ammon Olsen, Billy Green, Christian Stewart and Tanner Mangum all saw action, including a lot of work in skelly drills (7-on-7).

Hill connected on his first pass of 7-on-7, a deep ball to wide receiver Kurt Henderson for over 40 yards. On a second series, Hill found wideout Ross Apo over the middle on a catch-and-run pass that Apo took for 45 yards for the only touchdown of the session.

Munns impressed in skelly also, connecting on 5 of 7 passes for 53 yards, including a 26-yarder over the middle to Dallin Cutler.

On defense, defensive back Cameron Comer picked off a pass, linebacker Kyle Van Noy recorded a sack, defensive back Daniel Sorensen had a pass breakup and former tight end turned defensive lineman Darin Tuttle batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage.

The Cougars will practice again Wednesday and Friday, following that weekly format for the majority of spring football.