LIVINGSTON – While West Alabama head coach Will Hall was impressed with his team’s energy as the Tigers opened fall camp Monday with a morning walk-through and a two-hour practice in the heat of the afternoon, two position groups caught his eye in particular.

“Our newcomers on the defensive line were particularly impressive. I saw them running around and chasing the ball,” Hall said. “Our kickers also did a great job and that was the most pleasant thing.

“Going into camp kicking was our biggest question mark, but today we were perfect on extra points and on field goals,” Hall said. “Then Mark Grant nailed that field goal at the end with the pressure on.”

As practice neared conclusion, Hall announced that Grant could lessen conditioning drills for the entire team by making a 25-yard field goal. A miss, however, would increase conditioning. The redshirt freshman from Panama City, Fla., drilled the kick right down the middle.

“We had lots of energy today, probably like everybody else in the country on the first day,” Hall said. “We will be out here again tomorrow in the heat, full speed with music blaring. We love it.”

Senior defensive end Tirelle Cullen took it upon himself to help push younger teammates through their first collegiate practice, saying Hall constantly reminds him that it’s time for the Birmingham area product (Minor High School) to step up and be a leader.

“We had a lot of mental errors at practice today, some loafs that have to be fixed,” Cullen said. “It’s time for me to be a leader, but not only me, the whole defense will work together to get it done.”

With the exception of head shot photos being taken Tuesday morning, the Tigers’ day will be a carbon copy of Monday with meetings, walk-throughs and full squad practice at 3:30 p.m. All UWA football practices are open to the public.