SAVANNAH, Ga. – With only five practices left, the Savannah State football team is halfway through the spring practice season and the battle for starting positions is beginning to take shape.

“I am pleased with both sides of the ball,” second year head coach Steve Davenport said. “Obviously we've got a long way to go. Some guys are really stepping up. Hunter Vaughn is stepping up at quarterback. He and Antonio Bostick are really doing a good job for us. The offensive line went 98 snaps Saturday in the scrimmage and kept on fighting till the end.  Offensively, I am very pleased with the guys.”

As the spring season progress' and the team continue to build towards the start of football in September, the players at each position are battling for a starting job. No position is set for sure in the spring and with the advent of 23 signees in the summer months, most positions are up for grabs.

“The incoming kids are slotted to go different places,” Davenport said. “On the offensive line we're going to add seven or eight from the incoming kids. Everyone we've signed we've got a slot where we think they'll compete, but that's not to belittle the guys already here. The newcomers are going to have to come in and compete with the guys already here. If you have that competition at every position you're going to get better.”

In Monday's full-pad practice, Bostick and Vaughn continued to work with receivers and corners in 1-on-1 drills and both showed signs of improvement. Not to be overlooked, Hampton, Georgia native Victorian Hardison continues to make valuable contribution at the play-caller spot getting several good reps in on Monday.

“Hardison is good kid,” Davenport said. “They are all battling for the job. Hardison is a full scholarship kid so he's going to battle. The other two guys, Vaughn and Bostick, have stepped up in front of him, but he'll keep battling.”

The defensive team is beginning to take shape as well as they worked against the offensive line in basic drills Monday, giving the coaches a feel for the player's work ethic and potential to start in September.

“Defensively, Darius Alison and Tim Wright are playing well,” Davenport said. “Defensive secondary played well Saturday. I am very pleased, but we've got a long way to go. You take baby steps in the progression and I feel like we're doing that.”

Not to be overlooked in spring, special teams began work in pre-practice Monday. The field goal team and punt team saw some time in pre-practice. Davenport intends to work the two teams through the rest of spring and into summer.

Davenport announced earlier this week that the April 7^th scrimmage was cancelled due to the holiday weekend. The next full scrimmage for the team will be April 14, as the defense and offense go head-to-head in the annual Orange and Blue Spring Game.