GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman's football team will kick off spring practice at 6:45 a.m. Thursday morning at Paladin Stadium, head coach Clay Hendrix '86 has announced.

Thursday's workout will be the first of 15 practices for the Paladins, who have set Junior Day for Saturday, Mar. 15, at Paladin Stadium.
 
All practice dates, times, and locations are subject to change.

Furman's current roster, including both returnees and January enrollees, numbers 89, but 10 players will not take part in spring drills due to ongoing injury rehabilitation efforts.

The Paladins project to return 42 lettermen, including 14 players considered starters at the end of the 2024 season.  A total of 29 Paladins own starting experience.

Among Furman's top returnees on offense are quarterback Trey Hedden (6-3, 231, So.), wide receiver Ben Ferguson (5-11, 197, Sr.), center Chris Luna (6-3, 298, R-So.), guards Luke Petit (6-3, 285, R-Sr.) and  Ryan Lamb (6-2, 289, R-Sr.), and tackle Eli Brasher (6-4, 288, R-Jr.). 

Hedden, a SoCon All-Freshman Team selection, registered eight starts and passed for 1,767 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2024, and Ferguson caught 24 passes for 349 yards and a three scores last fall.  Petit, who counts 17 starts as a Paladin, landed All-SoCon honors last season, and Luna, Lamb, and Brasher own seven, 11, and 10 starts in their careers, respectively.

In addition, the Paladins sport two other 2024 SoCon All-Freshman Team returnees on offense in tight end Jackson Pryor (6-5, 219, So.) who caught 16 passes for 239 yards and two scores, and running back Gavin Hall (5-10, 201, So.), who ran for 321 yards (5.0 ypc) and a touchdown.

Defensively Furman counts 24 lettermen, including interior linemen Ty Kauserud (6-4, 293, So.) and SoCon All-Freshman Team pick Caldwell Bussey (6-3, 286, R-So.).  The duo combined for 26 tackles, 6.5 tackles for-loss, and 4.5 sacks in their first full season of action.

Linebackers Ryan Earl (6-2, 231, R-So.), a SoCon Freshman Team honoree, and Raleigh Herbert (6-2, 232, R-So.) lead the returning linebacking corps after totaling eight starts and 80 tackles between them in 2024.

A number of experienced performers are back in Furman's secondary — the leaders being cornerbacks Jaylen Moson (5-11, 176, R-So.) and Hysan Dalton (6-2, 190, R-So.), along with safeties Caleb Williams (5-10, 190, Sr.) and Billy Lewis (6-0, 188, R-So.).

Moson won a starting job in the preseason and proceeded to log five nods before a fractured collarbone in a 17-16 win over The Citadel ended his campaign,  He landed a spot on the SoCon All-Freshman Team, as did Lewis, who totaled 37 tackles and paced Furman with three interceptions.  Dalton, Moson's replacement in the lineup, ended up logging six starts and 29 stops.  Williams, meanwhile, finished second on the team with 53 tackles and a pair of pickoffs.

The Paladins should also get a significant boost with the expected return of AK Burrell (6-0, 208, R-So.) and Justin Hartwell (5-11, 204, Gr.), both of whom were projected to start a year ago before sustaining season ending injuries in the preseason.

Furman's kicking game should again be a strength with the return of first team All-SoCon placekicker Ian Williams, who converted 14-of-20 field goals last year, including a pair of school record tying 57-yard efforts, while also ranking among the best in FCS in kickoffs, evidenced by his 43 touchbacks on 49 kickoffs.  Williams also averaged 40.6 yards on 60 punts a year ago.

Hendrix is entering his ninth season as head coach this fall.  He owns a 54-37 overall record at Furman and is 41-21 versus Southern Conference opposition.

2025 Furman Spring Practice Schedule (subject to change)
Feb. 13 - 6:45 a.m.
Feb. 14 - 6:30 a.m.
Feb. 15 - 10:30 a.m.
Feb. 18 - TBD
Feb. 20 - TBD
Feb. 22 - TBD
Feb. 25 - TBD
Feb. 27 - TBD
Mar. 13 - TBD
Mar. 14 - TBD
Mar. 15 - 1:00 p.m. (Junior Day)
Mar. 18 - TBD
Mar. 20 - TBD
Mar. 25 - TBD
Mar. 27 - TBD