HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana football team will begin its on-field preparations for the 2018 football season on Tuesday, when the Lions officially begin their first spring practice under new head football coach Frank Scelfo.
 
Southeastern will hit the Strawberry Stadium turf for the first time Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Lions will practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. during the spring season. Spring practice culminates with the 2018 Spring Game, set for 2 p.m. on April 21 as part of Super Lion Saturday.
 
Scelfo is excited about seeing his new team in action and is looking forward to a productive spring.
 
"Spring practice is going to be a key evaluation period for us," Scelfo commented. "Our staff are still learning the players and the players are still learning our staff. We're going to use this spring to see which players best fit our system."
 
The Lions return a wealth of playmakers on offense. Junior quarterback Lorenzo Nunez the 2017 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, returns under center. With Nunez, sophomore Byron Walker and junior newcomer Chason Virgil all in the quarterback room, Scelfo and offensive coordinator Greg Stevens have one of SLU's deepest group of signal callers in recent memory.
 
Much of Southeastern's success offensively in 2017 came on the ground, as the Lions were fourth nationally. Three of the team's top rushers return in sophomore Marcus Cooper, senior Julius Maracalin and senior Darren Johnson.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions will be more dependent on new faces stepping up into larger roles. Senior Jon Miller and junior Fred Brown are among the most experienced defensive lineman returning up front for the Lions. Southeastern will be replacing the entire starting linebacker corps and all but senior defensive back Shamar Busby among the 2017 starting secondary.
 
The Lions will have plenty of experience returning on special teams. Junior Juwan Petit-Frere is back after leading the FCS in kickoff return average on the way to earning All-America and All-Southland Conference honors. Senior place kicker Jonathan Tatum and junior punter Ivy Wall also return for SLU.
 
The Lions will open their 2018 season at in-state FBS foe ULM on Sept. 1.
 
2018 Southeastern Louisiana Football Spring Schedule
All practices at Strawberry Stadium
Tuesday, March 13 – 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 15 – 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 17 – 10 a.m.
Tuesday, March 20 – 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 22 – 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 24 – 10 a.m.
Tuesday, March 27 – 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 29 – 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 10 – 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 12 – 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 14 – 10 a.m.
Tuesday, April 17 – 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 19 – 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 21 – 2 p.m. (Spring Game)