2025 Samford Football Local Media Day

Samford local media day for the 2025 season came and went. We were on site talking to head coach Chris Hatcher, QB Quincy Crittendon, DE Conroy Cunningham, LS Alex Applefield, and LB Jaden Mosley.

Q: Year two for Quincy as a starter. Where do you want to see the improvement from last year to this year?

Samford HC Chris Hatcher: “Well, he's going to be more comfortable in the system, okay. Yeah, I know in ‘22, you know, he had some great action there in the latter part of the season, and then in ‘23, had to back up Mike Hiers again. 
Last year was his first year being the starter, and I thought that he improved as the year went on. The biggest thing that I've expressed to Quincy is that the last two games of the year were probably our best offensive output games against Chattanooga and then the close defeat to Western Carolina there at the last game. And a lot of that is he ran with a purpose when he ran the ball. 
So he's got to be able to run with a purpose like he did those last two games and still be able to be a great point guard out there and spread the ball out with our running backs and receivers. So that's the thing that, you know, I'm excited about of him, you, turning into a running back at times back there and using his legs. And that's something he's going to have to do, consistently this year for us to be successful on the offensive side of the ball.”

Q: What was it like going through the offseason with the 2 defensive coordinator changes? All of it out of your control but scheme wise what is different this year compared to last year or the similarities?

Hatcher: “You know, last year we had a great defense. 
You know, we played really well on that side of the ball. You know, the changing of coordinators and changing of coaches, happens at every level, but especially, you know, at this level, year in and year out. So I would never say that you're a master at anything, but I've become accustomed to having to hire coaches, and that's probably the least fun part of the job, year in and year out, but Coach Slo brings a wealth of experience. We've been acquaintances and friends for a long time. He's coached, high level defenses. We're going to be a little more multiple in our set from a three man to a four man front. 
It does cause some problems the way that we do line up, and if yesterday we worked a lot of situations, and if we can execute the blitzes that we worked yesterday at practice, we’ll be pretty good on defense again this year.”

Hatcher: “Yeah, it's been good, you know, we've had to do that, and you kind of get in a wormhole there. So we're trying to build some freshmen depth there so that we don't have to be quite as reliant on the transfer portal. 
Really in every position, it's just you see it more at the defensive back position right now. But you know, Jalik Yancey had a good season for us last year. He's back. We have a true freshman Dylon Henderson, who actually enrolled midterm. That's been having a good camp. 
Dee Newsome’s a guy that really stands out on a corner now. He's a transfer from Jacksonville State, hails from the North Alabama region. He's a big long guy. These past couple practices, he’s flashed and then Nahil Perkins, a grad transfer from Fordham was here during the spring, who also, we feel like it's going to be in the mix this season.”

Q: Coach mentioned those young guys at the skill position, what has it been like building relationships with those guys?

QB Quincy Crittendon: “It's definitely been a challenge, you know being the old head, the Unc on the team, then you got these freshman guys coming in from high school and, you know, trying to pull up under your wing, gets a little frustrating at times. But it's fun not to say at least, they kind of keep me young. So, you know, just building that bond with those guys, owning and off the field has really been fun, and I think it's really going to be one of the highlights of my senior season.”

Q: Where do you want to see you improve from last season to this season?

Crittendon: ​​”Well, I think Hatcher hit it right on the head. I just really want to be a true dual threat being able to pass and run. I definitely want to be able to have more rushing touchdowns and passing touchdowns. 
I think that'll, you know, have the offense firing on all cylinders because we have the different playmakers on the outside. So I think just adding that part of the elements to the game would truly increase our offense and productiveness.”

Q: What has it been like learning and playing in this new system and what is your comfortability in it right now?

DE Conroy Cunningham: “I’m pretty comfortable in the system. It’s been a pleasure working under Coach Sloan learning different things. ​​Coach Moody, defensive line coach. try to, you know, marry as many techniques and stuff that we have done last year to this year and just make everything work as fluently as possible.”

Q: What was it like being named preseason all-conference? I know like you still have to play the season but what was it like seeing your name on that list?

Cunningham: “It was definitely an honor, you know, something that you look forward to and something that you hope to build on during the season.”

Q: What is your leadership role with these guys and what has it been like going through practice?

LS Alex Applefield: “Yeah, so I've been there. This is my sixth year here at Samford, seen a lot of games, a lot of different practices. 
A lot of experience over those years and I sort of know how to approach practice and approach camp, getting ready for a season. Knowing that it's taken it day by day, and we're not playing tomorrow, we got a lot of work to do before the season starts in 21 days. We have time. We don't have to, we need good practices. 
We don't have to put our best selves out there just yet. So we have time to improve. And that's sort of the leadership role I've put on those guys and knowing that, hey, we need to have good days, but if we miss a kick or miss hit punt here and there, that we got 21 days some season starts, and we'll be ready when that time comes.”

Q: How cool was it to that your teammates wanted you to wear that #5 jersey this season?

LB Jaden Mosley: “Just super grateful, you know, that my teammates come pick me to wear the jersey and you know, I’m just super honored and grateful for it.”

Q: What has it been like with the coordinator change and what is it like working in that linebacker room?

Mosley: “Coach Sloan, I like Coach Sloan. This new defense we got right now, it's kind of similar to last year, but kinda not. In just so learning the new ways he's teaching from us, teaching us right now, has been pretty good and just teaching the young guys how to go through practice, you know, maybe you need to spear here, block here. So it's been good.”

Samford opens the 2025 season against West Georgia on August 28 at 6:30pm.