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AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 1h ago
Transformed UNA roster kicks off fall camp
FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) — The University of North Alabama football program has a lot of new faces as the team kicked off fall camp Wednesday morning.
Head coach Brent Dearmon said the team has between 70-75 new players, with many coming through the transfer portal as UNA looks to make a turnaround from a 2-10 season in 2025.
“We all know that we didn’t perform the way we needed to perform, so we made some moves in the transfer portal,” Dearmon said. “We brought in our biggest transfer portal class.”
The Lions coaching staff named Destin Wade as the starting quarterback before the start of fall camp. Dearmon said knowing who the guy at that position is gives the team a lot of confidence.
“I think the whole team is behind Destin Wade, and then they know that John Austin, they know that Banks, the whole room can step up and play,” Dearmon said. “Knowing who the guy is is a good feeling.”
“It feels great, just blessed to have this opportunity, just to lead such a great football team,” Wade said. “I just want to give thanks to Coach Dearmon for allowing me to have this opportunity, so I’m excited.”
As for the rest of the roster, Dearmon said there are open competitions at every position throughout fall camp as the coaching staff looks to get the best 11 guys on the field.
“We have a fluid depth chart. I think between last night’s meeting and this morning’s practice, we had four changes on our special teams depth chart. I challenged our coaches, like, don’t let guys get comfortable,” Dearmon said. “Don’t let guys who have been a starter for two days get comfortable, send his butt down the depth chart and send a message.”
The Lions will run fall camp for the next couple of weeks and then flip their focus to the Samford Bulldogs. UNA and Samford kick the college football season off on Aug. 29 at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville.
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