SDSU Camp Notes Day 16
San Diego State opened up its practice one final time to the media this camp on Thursday and AztecSportsReport.com was there to bring you the scoop. Take a look at the Camp Notes from Day 16:
Fely gets a scare
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SDSU already lost one defensive starter last week when corner Josh Wade went down with an Achilles injury, and the Aztecs were worried they may have lost another one when linebacker Jake Fely had to leave practice early on Thursday with a swollen leg.
"It swelled up on him," head coach Rocky Long said. "They took him to the doctor, they X-rayed him, they MRI'd him - all that stuff."
Fortunately for SDSU, the doctors didn't find anything wrong. Fely came back out to practice for the last 20 minutes, but did not participate in drills and sported a slight limp.
"They can't find nothing wrong," Long said. "So it's probably just a bruise."
Long expects Fely to be ready to play next week.
Lindley dishes out praise
Most SDSU players and coaches give a vanilla answer when asked to single out a top performer from fall camp, but senior quarterback Ryan Lindley didn't hesitate to praise two of his offensive guys, Colin Lockett and Chad Young, when he was asked about standout individual performers these past two weeks.
For about a month leading up to fall camp, Lindley was asked around 100 times about his inexperienced receivers, and the simple answer was always, "We'll find out."
On Thursday, he said Lockett has really grown this camp.
"He's really embraced the role of a wide receiver," Lindley said of Lockett. "It's tough, especially for a guy like that, when you flip from the other side of the ball in a matter of months. He's done a really good job, and he'll get his hands together and he's going to be a good receiver."
Then Lindley said one of his non-receivers, fullback Young, has grown as well.
Click Here to view this Link."He's a guy who we didn't plan on getting the ball to a whole lot, and he's come out and he went from Stone-Hands Mcgee to a guy who I don't think has dropped a ball all camp," Lindley said of Young. "I don't think that guy could catch a ball to save his life in the spring and now he's making it happen. He's a guy who has improved a lot, has slimmed down and maintained a lot of strength and really he's going to be a load for us. He's going to be a workhorse in the backfield."
Both Lockett and Young are expected to start for SDSU on Sept. 3 against Cal Poly.
Injury updates
Long said defensive tackle Larry Gibbs (foot) has been cleared to do some drills, but is still being held out of most. He said Gibbs will not be ready for the opener against Cal Poly.
Long also said defensive lineman Kenneth Galea'i will be fitted for a brace soon and will test out his injured knee once the brace arrives.
Freshman receiver Larry Clark (knee) is the only other guy with a relatively severe injury, but he does not have a timetable to return right now.
Short Shots
Wide receiver Ezell Ruffin missed practice on Thursday afternoon to deal with a personal matter. "He's got some personal issues he's taking care of," Long said. "It's just a family issue." ... The seniors will miss Friday morning's practice to help incoming freshmen move into their dorms. Lindley said they will likely go over to the Cuicacalli dorm area and "be a brute for them." He also said it's a good way to introduce freshmen and their parents to the football team and get some recognition before the season begins. ... Running back Ronnie Hillman worked with the kick return team again on Thursday afternoon. ... Long said Thursday's Cal Poly preparation went a lot better than Wednesday's.