Coming off a hot finish to the 2006 season, and with 17 starters returning for next year, the Alcorn State Braves are excited as they prepare to hit the field again for spring practice Monday.

Braves head coach Johnny Thomas said he hoped the players would carry over the momentum from the end of the season.

“Whenever you win at the very end of the season — especially the way we did (in wins over Jackson State and Grambling State) — it gives you excitement, motivation and a sense of enthusiasm to build on in the coming season,” Thomas said. “I’m hoping it will give us that type of incentive.”

While 17 starters are returning, Thomas said there are concerns on the defensive side of the ball heading into spring drills.

“We’ve got to play better defense,” he said. “We’ve got to look at defensive end, middle linebacker and our entire secondary. That’s the one area we’ve got to get better in. You can’t win championships without a solid defense.”

The Braves gave up an average of 325.1 yards per game last season.

Another area to be watched closely is the quarterback position. Tony Hobson Jr., the starter heading into last season, had a tough sophomore campaign, completing only 47 percent of his passes and throwing eight interceptions compared to four touchdowns. After Hobson was injured in the Texas Southern game, Chris Walker got full-time duty at quarterback and played well, tossing 10 touchdown passes over the course of the season.

Thomas said there would be an open competition for quarterback, but Walker would not be a part of it at the moment because he is playing baseball.

“There’s not a designated starter at any position,” he said. “Every year, each player at each position has to compete, continue to work hard and continue to improve. They have to continue to do those things that are required to continue to keep his position or take his position. No position on the team is predestined to anybody.

“(Walker) is going to be (in the competition) along with Hobson and Tim Buckley (who served as punter last season). Who ever is able to make plays happen and be efficient will ultimately be the starter.”

Thomas said several other areas of the football team would get a close look during the three weeks of practice.

“We’ve got to shore up our special teams and get consistent on offense and on the offensive line, particularly,” he said. “We lost our center, Jermaine Pruett. The big emphasis is going to be on defense. We’ve got to be able to play defensive football.”

The Braves will practice at 3:30 p.m. every day, and will be in helmets and shoulder pads until next Monday, when they strap on full pads for the first time.

The spring game is scheduled for April 14.