Matt Viator says his team has returned to practice from last week’s spring break rested rather than rusty. That form will be on display at 4 p.m. Saturday when McNeese State participates in the second of its three spring football scrimmages at Cowboy Stadium.

“We’re a little thin on troops in some areas, but all in all, the effort’s been good,” the Cowboys head coach said. “We’ll see where we are in the scrimmage.”

The Cowboys will run 100 plays from scrimmage in addition to special teams work.

One of the biggest questions from McNeese’s first scrimmage has been answered.

Running back Javaris Murray, who went down with a knee injury, was back on the field Friday, though he still is not participating in contact drills.

Quarterback Will Briscoe, who has had his entire career derailed by a variety of knee injuries, is also back in non-contact drills.

“He does individual throws, but we’re not letting him anywhere close to contact yet,” Viator said. “Any time anything gets live, he’s out.”

The scrimmage will cap off a long day for Viator, who is also conducting the annual McNeese coaches clinic in the morning and afternoon. He anticipates nearly 100 high school coaches from Texas and Louisiana will be in attendance for the clinic and scrimmage.

“Being a (former) high school coach myself, I’ve always enjoyed it,” Viator said. “We’ve got some really good coaches coming in (to speak), and when it’s over they’ll have an opportunity to watch the scrimmage. There’ll be good fellowship, a lot of instruction, and they’ll do a lot of eating.”

(Rick Hickman / American Press)

Rick Hickman