The 2016 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl has some local flavor, as a total of five Alabama natives appear on the rosters of both teams.<\/p>\n
Appalachian State has four Alabama players in its roster, including former Montgomery Academy standout Josh Thomas.<\/p>\n
Thomas has been a media darling this week and served as the Mountaineers unofficial team host.\u00a0 He has also had some down time with his family and friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just went home (Tuesday) to spend time with my family,\u201d Thomas said. \u201c(On Wednesday night), we found something to do and had fun with my teammates. Just follow me, we\u2019ll find something for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas anchored a secondary that led the Sun Belt Conference and ranked third nationally with 25 interceptions. The sophomore defensive back played in 11 games and recorded 25 tackles, two interceptions (26 return yards), two tackles for loss (-4 yards), two pass breakups and one quarterback pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, it\u2019s a lot different because now my role is a little bigger, so I\u2019m definitely excited to go out there and play and just help my team get a \u2018W,\u2019 Thomas said.<\/p>\n
Sophomore defensive back Tae Hayes attended Decatur High School.\u00a0 He played in 12 games and recorded 18 tackles and one pass breakup for the Mountaineers.<\/p>\n
Freshman quarterback Zac Thomas played at Hewitt-Trussville High School. Freshman offensive lineman Cole Garrison played a Clay-Chalkville High School.\u00a0 Both redshirted this season.<\/p>\n
Toledo has one Montgomery native on its roster this season.\u00a0 Freshman linebacker Tre\u2019Shaun Wilson played at Robert E. Lee High School. The Cramton Bowl, the site of the 2016 Camellia Bowl, was his home field the last three years. Wilson is redshirting this season. Toledo\u2019s interview policy does not allow freshmen to be interviewed.<\/p>\n
THURSDAY PRACTICE NOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n Both teams held a brief walk-thru on Thursday afternoon.\u00a0 Appalachian State held a 45-minute walk thru at Alabama State University.\u00a0 Toledo held a 45-minute, closed session at Huntingdon College.<\/p>\n FRIDAY SCHEUDLE OF EVENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n Both teams will hold full speed practices on Friday at their respective practice sites. Both sessions are closed to the media and public.<\/p>\n Appalachian State and Toledo will attend the 2016 Alabama Football Legend Awards Luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel on Friday at Noon. Former three-time University of Alabama All-American Woodrow Lowe is this year\u2019s Alabama Football Legend.<\/p>\n ASU head coach Scott Satterfield and Toledo head coach Jason Candle will meet with the media on Friday at the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl Head Coaches Press Conference at the Cramton Bowl.<\/p>\n Both teams are expected to have a brief walk thru at the stadium with potential team photos.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The 2016 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl has some local flavor, as a total of five Alabama natives appear on the rosters of both teams. Appalachian State has four Alabama players in its roster, including former Montgomery Academy standout Josh Thomas. Thomas has been a media darling this week and served as the Mountaineers unofficial team […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n