PDF UNA Spring Football Facts
FLORENCE, Ala. -- With eight returning offensive starters from a team that went 7-3 in its first season of NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) competition, the University of North Alabama and head coach Chris Willis will begin 2019 spring drills on Monday (March 18) at 3:30 p.m.

The Lions, set to begin their first season as a football member of the Big South Conference, face a challenging 11-game schedule composed entirely of FCS schools. The 2019 schedule includes traditional FCS powers Montana, Jacksonville State and Kennesaw State. UNA's road schedule will have the Lions traveling to Montana, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and New Jersey.

North Alabama returns 32 lettermen overall with 17 back on offense, 13 on defense and two on special teams.

"The biggest difference this year for us is that we have all our coaches back and don't have to worry about getting to know each other or how to work together," Willis said. "This spring will be more of an evaluation process than in years past. We've got a lot of young people that need the reps and that we need to look at. At the same time we only get 15 practices so we want to be careful about our contact, have everybody stay healthy and hopefully find some guys who can help us."

With starting quarterback Christian Lopez, starting receivers Dexter Boykin, Jakobi Byrd, Cortez Hall and Andre Little, and starting offensive linemen Jake Whitehead, Devaris Nalls and Cody Mann all back, Willis says the biggest concern is on the defensive side.

"We will have good competition and depth at every position but defensive line this spring," Willis said. "The guys on the defensive line won't have any complaints this spring about getting plenty of reps in practice. We will be in survival mode there until our new people get here to fill the gaps."

The defense does return starting linebackers Will Evans and Christon Taylor and starting safety K.J. Smith. There are 14 other returning players who saw action in 2018 who will compete for the opening sports this spring.

UNA will hold its annual Purple-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 13 at 1:00 p.m. at Braly Stadium. Willis said with the lack of numbers on the defensive line, the spring contest will not be an actual game but a scrimmage with the offense facing the defense in a points system.

The Lions will also have three practice days remaining following the spring game and will end spring workouts on April 18.  

North Alabama will host its first FCS opponent of the Division I era at home to open the 2019 season when Western Illinois comes to Braly Stadium on Thursday night, August 29.  

March 18    3:30 p.m
March 19    6:00 a.m.
March 20    3:30 p.m.
March 21    6:00 a.m.
April 1        3:30 p.m.
April 3        3:30 p.m
April 5        3:30 p.m
April 6        10:00 a.m.
April 8        3:30 p.m
April 10.    3:30 p.m
April 12    3:30 p.m
April 13    1:00 p.m. SPRING GAME
April 15    3:30 p.m.
April 17    3:30 p.m.
April 18    6:00 a.m.