Cougar football returned last week as players strapped on their helmets and threw on their jerseys for the first time since November.

After a disappointing 2014 when Cougars went 3-9, a fresh start officially began last Thursday afternoon with the first spring practice. Senior linebacker Jeremiah Allison said he is looking forward to the start of a new season.

“It’s very exciting,” Allison said. “We’ve been competing in the weight room all offseason so it’s good to get out here and do something about it.”

The players certainly looked like they were excited to be back on the field as they participated in team drills and scrimmaged at the end of practice. The defense and offense got into it, signaling both sides of the ball had excellent competition and intensity. Head Coach Mike Leach said he was satisfied with the intensity of the first practice.

“It had really good intensity,” Leach said. “Better than expected, I thought it’d be good but it was better than I expected.”

One of the bigger storylines to open camp is the defense’s development behind new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. Grinch comes to the Cougars after serving as the safeties coach with the Missouri Tigers. The defense got beat regularly in team drills, but when it came down to the scrimmage, Grinch’s squad stepped up its game. Grinch said he believes the defense has the right mentality heading into spring.

“I think the guys are hungry, which is good, I mean those are the types of guys you want to work with,” Grinch said. “Again I think that’s across the board with the back end, linebackers, as well as the D-line. I’d highlight that; I think they’re a hungry group. I think they want to improve, which I think gives you a chance.”

For some coaches, implementing a new scheme and gelling with a new system can be a long, intricate process. However, just three practices into spring camp, Grinch’s players said they are enthused about their new coach.

“He’s a phenomenal individual,” Allison said. “He’s high-energy, he’s backing his players and he’s behind them 100 percent. He simplifies the whole game plan, so we shouldn’t come out here confused ‘cause he makes sure he drills it into us in the meeting room.”

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Luke Falk and redshirt freshman quarterback Peyton Bender split first team reps during the team drills and served as the quarterbacks during the scrimmage. Although Falk started the final three games for the Cougars, Leach said no starter has been named yet and the two quarterbacks will split reps during camp.

The Cougars sported several new looks at receiver, trying to replace the production they lost in the offseason in the form of wide receivers Vince Mayle, Rickey Galvin and Isiah Myers. However, Falk said he believes the team will be fine at the position as the unit continues to gel in camp.

“I think we have a great receiving corps,” Falk said. “Those guys (Mayle and Galvin) are big losses, but I think the guys are stepping up. Dom’s (Williams) awesome, we’ve got Robert Lewis, Tyler Baker, River (Cracraft), John Thompson, Gabe Marks, Calvin Green, I mean I could name them all. Just competing their butt off and it showed today, I’m really happy with the results.”

WSU will continue to hold its spring practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the afternoon. Times for Saturday practices will vary.