Redhawks QB returns to camp bigger, stronger, faster

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Paxton DeLaurent prepares to pass during practice at Houck Field on Wednesday, July 24.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

With the first practice of training camp underway on Wednesday, July 24, at Houck Field, college football is rising in Cape Girardeau like the blistering sun.

While nobody truly looks forward to training camp, the first day is always one to look forward to.

A return to action.

"I'm super excited," SEMO quarterback Paxton DeLaurent said. "The spring was really good. You kind of pace yourself. It was a long way away coming from an injury, especially for me, I haven't played for a long time. But for the summer I was like 'C'mon, let's go!' Now you're in football fall camp and the excitement comes with it."

Wednesday was a big first day for DeLaurent, who enters training camp with all his past injuries behind him. The senior was a slim 212 lbs last season when he threw for 1,792 yards and 11 touchdowns before missing the final four games due to a shoulder injury.

He has returned at a 230-lb frame feeling both predictably stronger but also more flexible than before.

"I feel just as athletic right now," DeLaurent said. "My shoulder feels a little bit stronger. I feel like I'm getting a little more zip on the ball."

DeLaurent credits first-year Director of Sports Performance Wes Piersall for both his transformation and the team's improvement as a whole.

"He focused on speed a little bit," DeLaurent said, "so I feel our whole team is more athletic."

DeLaurent is ranked the No. 8 starting quarterback in the FCS by HERO Sports, fresh off an offseason where he learned from the best as a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy. The third-year starter has a lot of new targets to throw to and to find the same chemistry that he had with Ryan Flournoy, who is now at NFL training camp with the Dallas Cowboys.

"It's nice to see guys flying around, ready to play, happy to be here," DeLaurent said.

Wednesday starts an early slate of 26 practices leading up to the FCS Kickoff matchup against North Alabama on Aug. 24, at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama.

It will be the Redhawks' only appearance on ESPN this regular season.