UNT Spring Football Practice Gets Underway

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DENTON, Texas – The second spring football season of the Dan McCarney era officially got underway today as the Mean Green hit the field for the first time this spring. North Texas ran 24 drills in just shorts this afternoon in the first of 15 practices that will take place this spring.

North Texas returns nine starters on offense and six on defense. The biggest hole to fill will be at the running back position as the Mean Green looks for a replacement for all-time leading rusher Lance Dunbar. Brandin Byrd, Zac Whitfield, Antoinne Jimmerson, and Jeremy Brown all had their opportunities this afternoon at the running back position.

On defense six players are back for the Mean Green, but the secondary has the most wide open competition.

North Texas has to replace three starters and the only player back with starting experience from last year is sophomore Freddie Warner. Junior Marcus Trice, who sat out last season after transferring from Oklahoma, is expected to compete for one of the starting safety spots.

Middle linebacker Zachary Orr was back today and is 100 percent after missing the last three games with an injury last season. Despite missing three games, the junior linebacker was still the leading tackler for North Texas last season.

All practices and scrimmages are open to the public, but there were a few famous faces that also dropped by the Mean Green’s first spring practice. Former coach and quarterback Chuck Long was in attendance and spoke to the team before the first drills began.

North Texas will return to the practice field Friday morning at 6 a.m. for one more practice in shorts before putting on the pads for the first time Saturday morning.