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Blazer Football Notebook: Fall Camp Week 1
- UAB sustained high energy and physicality through its first five fall practices, but Alex Mortensen identified execution within the expanding offensive and defensive installations as the next priority before the Illinois opener.
- UAB's receiver competition is deep enough for a broad rotation, with veterans AJ Johnson and Kaleb Brown joined by newcomers Ty Mims and KJ Daniels as the staff defines roles.
- Anta'Veon McKenzie moved from safety to nickel and reported strong three-deep competition across UAB's secondary.
- Veteran center Adam Lepkowski is mentoring younger centers Aidan Platt and Kade Martin, while quarterback Ryder Burton has taken a larger leadership role entering his second season in UAB's offense.
- Mortensen said UAB entered camp faster, more explosive and better conditioned than in spring, crediting offseason strength, recovery and nutrition work for gains in size and power.
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4 takeaways from UAB football’s first preseason scrimmage of 2026
- “I thought overall, especially on defense, they played hard and tough today,” coach Alex Mortensen said. “Start to finish, that’s something we were really looking for, guys to play hard to the last play, and especially defensively, they did that.” If there was an MVP it was likely sophomore defensive end J’Quan Mason, who led the way with four sacks.
- The McCalla native is expected to play a...
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- Defense: Defensive Postcards from Scrimmage #WinAsOne | #NEWBlazers
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