HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana football team opened spring practice on Sunday with a Monday afternoon workout at the Southeastern football practice fields.

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The team, dressed in helmets and jerseys, worked out for about two hours in their initial spring drill. The Lions return 42 letter winners from last season’s squad, including six starters on offense. However, for the Lion offense to reach the next level, a pair of new faces may have to play a huge part.

One of the new faces is making his return to the Lions after missing the past season. Sophomore offensive guard David Ward, who started on the offensive line as a true freshman in 2006, was back on the practice field after missing the 2007 season with a knee injury. With the Lions graduating four senior starters from last season’s offensive line, Ward will be looked upon as one of the leaders up front for Southeastern.

Ward will likely be clearing the way for a solid Southeastern running game, which will be enhanced by junior running back Jasper Duckworth. The Olive, Miss. native is coming off a sophomore season in which he rushed for 889 yards and 19 touchdowns at Jones Community College. While senior Jay Lucas, a two-time All-Southland Conference performer, will handle the majority of the carries for the Lions, the shifty Duckworth should provide Southeastern with an effective change of pace.

Southeastern will hit the Strawberry Stadium turf for the first time on Wednesday for an early morning 5:30 a.m. workout.

SLU Athletics
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