GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Davenport brought in 85 players in its inaugural class for the fall of 2015, but success would be dependent upon bringing in some older guys via transfers. As the Panthers have embarked upon spring practice in 2016, they say those new guys have been very beneficial.
"I'd say it's getting a lot better compared to fall ball," freshman defensive end Patrick McMahon says. "You can already feel that the intensity is way up there we got a bunch of new kids in here who are pushing us a lot harder than some others and it's a great mix of new faces and old faces and we are just cometing like no other."
"They help out a lot because they bring the knowledge of college football to a new program," freshman running back and East Kentwood grad Michael Ivy says. "We have a lot of young people here so the elders they give you motivation, they give you the support and that leadership."
"I think for us what it has done it has really gotten guys competition," head coach Lou Esposito says. "In the fall guys had gotten those first reps with the first group and some guys felt comfortable and now all of a sudden there is guys behind them that are really good or better than what they were before and now it`s building competition. We talk about it all the time: competition breeds success."
