Just as he had the last three years, Chris Covington strolled into the locker room on the first day of spring practice and grabbed his jersey out of his locker.
Then he did a double-take.
Instead of the white practice jersey he grew accustomed to wearing as a member of Georgia Southern’s offense the last two seasons, Covington’s shirt was dark blue — the signature color of the Eagle defense.
“At first I thought I grabbed somebody else’s jersey,” he said.
The color of his practice gear is one of the many adjustments the former standout running back will endure during the next few weeks as he adapts to his new role at the rover position on defense.
It’s uncommon to see a leading rusher — Covington ran for a team-high 824 yards and eight touchdowns last year — switch to defense, but that’s the kind of commitment Covington has made to his team. With a surplus of running backs and shallow pool of defensive backs, first-year Eagle coach Chris Hatcher sat down with Covington prior to spring workouts to talk about changing roles.
“Chris would excel at any position he played,” Hatcher said. “He was the only running back that could probably be a great defensive player. We talked to him about it, and he was fine with it. He wanted to do whatever he could to help the team.”
How does Covington feel about the move?
“I don’t care as long as I get to play and we win,” he said. “I love running the ball, but I like winning a lot more. It doesn’t bother me at all.”
Covington lined up at defense back occasionally during his days as a star running back at Brookwood High School in Snellville,Ga., but it’s been a few years.
“I’m a little bit rusty,” he said. “But they’ve got a lot of patience with me, and I’m trying to get a little extra work in to catch up with everybody else.”
The first two days of spring practice were rough for Covington, who said everything was flying by him, causing the 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior to feel like a rookie all over again. After the team’s third workout Monday afternoon, Covington said things have gotten a lot better for him.
“I’ve spent a lot more time in the classroom,” he said. “Once I memorize things, it’s a lot easier. It’s slowed down a little bit, and I can actually play. It’s a little more enjoyable.”
Now that he’s moved to defense, Covington’s on the same side of the field as his younger brother, Matt, a redshirt freshman who was a member of GSU’s scout team last year. Chris Covington said he enjoys having his little brother on the team, an opportunity he’s only had once — his senior year in high school.
“It’s a real fun experience,” Covington said. “We are over there working together, and it makes things a lot more interesting.”
Covington’s role — the rover is a new position to GSU’s defense — will be similar to a strong safety. He’ll have pass and run responsibilities and be a guy that rolls down in the box for eight-man spacing. The rover is on the field every down, and where he lines up varies. Several other Eagles are also working out at rover, including sophomore Brandon Echols and senior Jason Hawkins.
“The reason we call him a rover is because he doesn’t always go to the strong side every time,” GSU defensive coordinator Ashley Anders said. “He kind of roams around the field. Most of the time he’ll go to strong side with the Sam linebacker, but may go to the weak side or come down to the box in certain defenses.”
What are the Eagles looking for in a rover?
“Someone who has the skills of a defensive back and the mentality of a linebacker because he does have to come down and play the run a lot – more so than the free safety does,” Anders said.
Progress continues
The Eagles worked out in shoulder pads for the first time Monday, and Hatcher continues to see progress.
“We are getting a little better,” he said. “We know the plays a little better, our execution is sharpening up somewhat, our attitude is getting better. We’ll start going offense versus defense a little more on Wednesday, and we’ll find out a little bit more about our football team.”
Full pads Wednesday
Georgia Southern will practice in full pads for the first time Wednesday afternoon and hold its first scrimmage Saturday morning around 10 a.m. at Beautiful Eagle Creek.
‘We’ll just know’
As they have since the first day of spring practice, Eagle coaches and players continue to wear their shirts inside-out and have tape covering the logos on their hats. Hatcher said everyone has to earn the right to wear blue and white.
When will the GSU logo and jersey numbers be revealed, and what has to be done to earn that right?
“I don’t know yet,” Hatcher said. “I don’t think anybody knows. We’ll just know when it’s time to turn them right-side out.”
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
Then he did a double-take.
Instead of the white practice jersey he grew accustomed to wearing as a member of Georgia Southern’s offense the last two seasons, Covington’s shirt was dark blue — the signature color of the Eagle defense.
“At first I thought I grabbed somebody else’s jersey,” he said.
The color of his practice gear is one of the many adjustments the former standout running back will endure during the next few weeks as he adapts to his new role at the rover position on defense.
It’s uncommon to see a leading rusher — Covington ran for a team-high 824 yards and eight touchdowns last year — switch to defense, but that’s the kind of commitment Covington has made to his team. With a surplus of running backs and shallow pool of defensive backs, first-year Eagle coach Chris Hatcher sat down with Covington prior to spring workouts to talk about changing roles.
“Chris would excel at any position he played,” Hatcher said. “He was the only running back that could probably be a great defensive player. We talked to him about it, and he was fine with it. He wanted to do whatever he could to help the team.”
How does Covington feel about the move?
“I don’t care as long as I get to play and we win,” he said. “I love running the ball, but I like winning a lot more. It doesn’t bother me at all.”
Covington lined up at defense back occasionally during his days as a star running back at Brookwood High School in Snellville,Ga., but it’s been a few years.
“I’m a little bit rusty,” he said. “But they’ve got a lot of patience with me, and I’m trying to get a little extra work in to catch up with everybody else.”
The first two days of spring practice were rough for Covington, who said everything was flying by him, causing the 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior to feel like a rookie all over again. After the team’s third workout Monday afternoon, Covington said things have gotten a lot better for him.
“I’ve spent a lot more time in the classroom,” he said. “Once I memorize things, it’s a lot easier. It’s slowed down a little bit, and I can actually play. It’s a little more enjoyable.”
Now that he’s moved to defense, Covington’s on the same side of the field as his younger brother, Matt, a redshirt freshman who was a member of GSU’s scout team last year. Chris Covington said he enjoys having his little brother on the team, an opportunity he’s only had once — his senior year in high school.
“It’s a real fun experience,” Covington said. “We are over there working together, and it makes things a lot more interesting.”
Covington’s role — the rover is a new position to GSU’s defense — will be similar to a strong safety. He’ll have pass and run responsibilities and be a guy that rolls down in the box for eight-man spacing. The rover is on the field every down, and where he lines up varies. Several other Eagles are also working out at rover, including sophomore Brandon Echols and senior Jason Hawkins.
“The reason we call him a rover is because he doesn’t always go to the strong side every time,” GSU defensive coordinator Ashley Anders said. “He kind of roams around the field. Most of the time he’ll go to strong side with the Sam linebacker, but may go to the weak side or come down to the box in certain defenses.”
What are the Eagles looking for in a rover?
“Someone who has the skills of a defensive back and the mentality of a linebacker because he does have to come down and play the run a lot – more so than the free safety does,” Anders said.
Progress continues
The Eagles worked out in shoulder pads for the first time Monday, and Hatcher continues to see progress.
“We are getting a little better,” he said. “We know the plays a little better, our execution is sharpening up somewhat, our attitude is getting better. We’ll start going offense versus defense a little more on Wednesday, and we’ll find out a little bit more about our football team.”
Full pads Wednesday
Georgia Southern will practice in full pads for the first time Wednesday afternoon and hold its first scrimmage Saturday morning around 10 a.m. at Beautiful Eagle Creek.
‘We’ll just know’
As they have since the first day of spring practice, Eagle coaches and players continue to wear their shirts inside-out and have tape covering the logos on their hats. Hatcher said everyone has to earn the right to wear blue and white.
When will the GSU logo and jersey numbers be revealed, and what has to be done to earn that right?
“I don’t know yet,” Hatcher said. “I don’t think anybody knows. We’ll just know when it’s time to turn them right-side out.”
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
