Valdon Cooper and Tevin Thomas transferred to Georgia Southern in January hoping to contribute to the football team this season.

After three spring practices, Thursday’s and Friday’s in shorts and helmets, and Friday’s and Saturday’s shortened by lightning, it’s too early for GSU head coach Jeff Monken to fully evaluate the duo.

But Monken said he likes how Cooper and Thomas have gone about their business since arriving on campus.

"They’re both hard workers," Monken said Saturday afternoon, following the Eagles’ first practice in full pads. "They’ve done a good job in the weight room in the offseason … I can’t tell you, based on the three days we’ve been here, what they can do yet. But we’re impressed with what they did on film."

Cooper, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound rising sophomore cornerback, transferred from the University of Illinois, where he played sparingly in 10 games last season.

"Mostly special teams," said Cooper, a Georgia native who graduated from Elbert County High School in Elberton. "I got a little bit of work at corner and nickel."

At Elbert County, Cooper played running back and safety. As a senior, he ran for 906 yards and 12 touchdowns on 94 carries, and made four receptions for 48 yards for the Blue Devils. Defensively, Cooper made 25 tackles, including three for loss, to go with two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

A three-star recruit by Rivals.com., Cooper chose Illinois over Navy, Air Force and West Virginia. He was clocked at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash at Georgia Tech’s football camp, and turned down a track scholarship offer from Clemson.

Cooper, who graduated from high school with a 3.7 grade-point average, said he chose to transfer from Illinois, a Football Bowl Subdivision member, to GSU, a Football Championship Subdivision member, in search of more playing time.

"They were recruiting me out of high school," Cooper said of GSU, "and I figured I could come to this school and have success, and I wouldn’t have to lose a year by transferring (to a lower-division school)."

GSU’s lack of depth at cornerback is a major concern for Monken and his assistants. The Eagles lost senior cornerbacks Laron Scott and Hudson Presume, as well as freshman cornerback Riyahd Jones, who is no longer enrolled. Derek Heyden, who suffered a neck injury last season, did not return, and safety Michael Butler’s eligibility expired.

Deion Stanley, GSU’s leading tackler, is back at safety. Lavelle Westbrooks also is back at safety. Mitch Williford moved from wide receiver to free safety this spring.

"You always have great hopes (for playing time), but I’m still learning," Cooper said. "I’m looking to bring leadership to the table. Whatever I can do to help, that’s what I’m trying to do. Even though I don’t have much experience at corner, because naturally I’m an offensive guy, I feel like I bring some instincts and athletic ability. I can pretty much adapt to any situation."

Thomas, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound rising junior linebacker from Franklin County High School in Meadville, Miss., transferred to GSU from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Miss.

Last season, he led Co-Lin in tackles with 87, including 40 solo stops. He also forced a fumble for the Wolfpack.

In 2010, Thomas was a redshirt freshman at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La.

"I went that summer, once I had graduated (from high school)," he said. "I got in financial problems with my family, so I decided to leave school. My mom wanted me to get back in school so I signed with a junior college."

As a high school senior, Thomas made 106 tackles, including six sacks. He also forced and recovered four fumbles for the Bulldogs. He was named to the all-district and all-area teams.

Thomas signed with GSU as a safety but has been moved to linebacker. GSU has three linebackers who are not participating in spring practice because of injuries: Darius Eubanks (hip), Carlos Cave (knee) and Michael Spaulding (ankle). Thomas is competing for playing time in a unit led by Josh Rowe.

"It was an easy transition," Thomas said of moving from safety to linebacker. "I’m trying to get better, at least 1 percent every day, and learn the plays. It’s a lot more complex, plus the triple-option is pretty hard to stop. If one person (on defense) messes up, (the ball carrier) can easily bust it (for a touchdown)."

Notes: GSU’s first practice in full pads Saturday was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. but was delayed 45 minutes because of lightning. Practice was delayed again at 11:35 a.m. because of lightning. At 12:15 p.m., Monken told the team they would try to resume practice at 4 p.m. … Brett Moore said he, William Maxwell, Nico Hickey, Laron Scott, Michael Butler and possibly some other players from last season’s team will work out for NFL scouts during GSU’s Pro Day at 9 a.m. Thursday.