Published: May 17, 2008 12:45 am            

Spring time to evaluate for EHS

The 2008 high school football season is three months away, but new Enid coach Tommy Parker already has begun evaluating who can play where and how much.

That evaluation process continues tonight during Enid’s spring football scrimmage at D. Bruce Selby Stadium.

The action begins at 6:30 p.m. There is no admission charge. The Enid Greybeards will serve free hamburgers on the practice field west of the stadium.

Parker will have about 70 players in pads tonight, including full- or part-time starters at three positions on offense and seven on defense.

On offense, quarterback Clint Chelf, receiver Seth Sturgeon and lineman Matt Loehr are back. Defensive players back are safety Brett Kenaga, lineman Trent Dupy, linebackers Mason Faulkner, Zach Gonzalez, Jesse Ream and John-athon Burton and cornerback Matt-hew Cotton.

Parker will get an extended look at several juniors, including receivers Donnie Fuston, Jamal Lofton and Mark Johnson. Parker said several sophomores will get a close look, including linemen Frank Gonzalez and Blake Ferguson, quarterbacks Alex Patterson and Tanner Miller and receivers Joe Black and Cody Lee.

Enid has a new player in camp in Daniel Barwick, a move-in from Pond Creek-Hunter. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound running back-cornerback ran for 1,555 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

“Everybody is in the mix,’’ said Parker. “But we know what guys like Chelf and Dupy can do. We want to see who is going to fit into the mix. You can’t tell until you put the pads on.’’

High school teams are allowed 10 days in pads in the spring. Parker said because of other school conflicts, the Plainsmen will get about six days in pads.

Parker said the purpose of spring practice is to refresh the veteran players and instruct the newcomers.

“It’s a learning process,’’ he said. “It’s a recognition period. We want to see how they have picked up our schemes.’’

Parker said the controlled scrimmage will be filmed and evaluated by coaches and players.

Enid has added a new coach to the staff. Former Pioneer head coach Jon Claborn will coach the secondary.

Later this month, the football program will begin a long series of summer camps, beginning with the Northwest Line Camp May 27-28. Camps for quarterbacks and receivers, and a camp for players in third through sixth grade, also will be held May 27-28.

A camp for high school and junior high players will be May 29-30.

Enid will travel to the Tulsa Team Camp June 4-6.

Enid has four 7-on-7 passing camps on the schedule — June 10 at El Reno, June 12 at Alva, July 7 at Alva and July 8 at El Reno.

The entire month of July will be dedicated to the Summer Pride program, early morning workouts for high school and junior high players.

The Plainsmen will have two preseason scrimmages before opening the regular season Sept. 5 at Sand Springs.

The first home game is Sept. 12 against Sapulpa.

“Right now, we need to work on us,’’ said Parker. “We’re not going to worry about the other teams yet.’’