Jimmies football working with new changes in spring camp

Mar. 20—JAMESTOWN — The University of Jamestown football team is back on the field at Charlotte and Gordon Hansen Stadium for the beginning stages of spring practices.

The Jimmies' first day of practice was on March 12, and they will go until mid-April.

"The guys are excited, flying around, a lot of new and a lot of change but change equals growth so we're having a good time so far," Jimmies head coach Brian Mistro said.

One of the pieces the Jimmies are working on the most this spring is learning new offensive coordinator Shane Kelly's playbook.

"Obviously, being a whole new person being in there, you see what they like to run, the visions they have for certain plays compared to a past offense," Jimmies quarterback Nick Martinez said. "Every offensive coordinator likes to run different styles of runs and whatnot and different styles of passes. Coach Kelly, he likes to get the ball out pretty quick to get our guys in space. He likes to set us up for success with a whole bunch of ... showings and all these other things."

Kelly was hired on Jan. 8 to replace Jason Challeen, who served as the offensive coordinator from 2015 to 2024. Mistro said there are similarities between Kelly's playbook and Challeen's playbook, but the biggest differences are in the terminology and the formations they are using.

"It is a little different, coach Challeen he loved the air raid, we loved to throw the ball," Martinez said. "We kind of went away from that a little bit last year when he left, we had a little bit more of a balanced offense, I'd say. We ran and passed. Coach Challeen loved to pass the ball, I think coach Kelly is a little more balanced, he obviously knows we got playmakers on the perimeter but he also knows we got a bunch of guys in the backfield that want the ball and can make something happen in open space or through a hole as well."

The Jimmies are expected to have seven quarterbacks on the roster this year with Martinez being the only returner with experience. Last year, Martinez played in five games, throwing for 242 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Martinez and his fellow quarterbacks wear Go-Pro cameras on their helmets, which Martinez said helps the coaches see the signal callers' perspectives.

"It definitely helps probably the coaches a little bit more than us, obviously we can correct where we're wrong and where we're looking for reads," Martinez said. "But for me, I use my peripheral vision a lot more so sometimes it helps me look to where I'm looking off safeties ... But I think it helps the coaches get a feel of how we're doing at the playbook and how we're seeing on certain plays and what coverages we're seeing."

Kelly is not the only new coach on the staff as Mistro also hired Tom Dosch to be the associate head coach and special teams coordinator.

"There's a lot of new with the offense obviously getting used to coach Kelly and with coach Dosch and the special teams game, it's been good," Mistro said. "We've had meetings, guys are watching film and we're repping through the drills that he's brought. It's been really good so far."

This spring the Jimmies defense will be putting in a lot of work to try to replace multiple starters who are graduating from last year's squad. The Jimmies offensive line will also be one of the groups that needs to replace the most players from last year's unit.

"We lose all four starting linebackers so I think the linebacker group has got a lot of things that they can see and improve on from guys that haven't played a lot," Mistro said. "Offensive line-wise, we lost some big pieces there and obviously want to see those guys gel together. Those are the two big ones that are right off the top of my head."

One of the players who will be stepping into a big role in the secondary this year is redshirt junior Xander Jarosh. He will need to replace the production of Rashawn Benners and Parker Chaffee, who combined for 73 total tackles, four tackles for a loss for 11 yards, three interceptions, nine pass deflections, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

"We just have to do our job, make plays," Jarosh said. "(The) corners, we have to stick to our divider in cover three; safeties, we just have to be communicating, make sure that everyone's on the same page. We just have to run to the ball, honestly. If we're playing fast, playing smart and run to the football we're gonna be all right."

Last year, Jarosh played in eight games compiling 11 tackles and one pass deflection.

"I'm not super focused on myself this year, I just want the team to be as successful as possible, that's just playing whatever role I can whether it's on defense, whether it's on special teams, just try and be a leader and be vocal and preach the right things to the guys," Jarosh said.

The Jimmies are getting ready for their first-ever season at the NCAA Division II level which brings with it different rules than from the NAIA level. Mistro said the differences are when the team can practice with or without wearing pads.

Mistro said the spring game this year will take on a new look as they host Minnesota State University Moorhead on Saturday, April 12, in a joint practice.

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