CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas began fall camp Wednesday, completing a three-hour morning practice as the Bears prepare for their season opener in 20 days.

Bearsoach Nathan Brown said he was pleased with the team’s effort and energy.

“We attacked at a high rate of speed, effort was good, a lot of retention from spring and summer,” Brown said. “That’s what you’re looking for as a coach, not having to coach a lot of x’s and o’s, details.

“I’m very pleased with the way we attacked, it’s hot out here. I don’t care if you start at 8 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon, it’s July, it’s going to be warm.”

UCA Bears coach Nathan Brown at opening practice of fall camp. | Ted McClenning-AllBears+ Images

The Bears will continue camp for three weeks, including two team scrimmages. The first full scrimmage is scheduled for Aug. 9.

UCA enters the season with a quarterback competition following the departure of last year’s starter Will McElvain. Incumbent backup Austin Myers took first-team reps Wednesday, while Middle Tennessee transfer Luther Richesson worked with the second team.

“Honestly, Austin, Luther, those are kind of the three right now,” Brown said. “Redshirt freshman, he’s going to be a good player here, but I didn’t think we made great decisions today.

UCA Bears quarterback Luther Richesson at opening practice of fall camp. | Ted McClenning-AllBears+ Images

“I’ve got high expectations for that room, obviously being in that room fulltime now, calling plays, I’ve got a vested interest in what each day holds. We’ll improve though, we’re just a little green, but every guy in that room has talent.”

Brown is taking over playcalling duties this season after the departure of offensive coordinator Ken Collums.

“I’m feeling the head coaching duties, obviously,” Brown said. “But a little more intense with the day to day operations, practice scripts, everything’s going through my lips, my lens now. That’s not to pat myself on the back, we’ve got a great offensive coaching staff that have bought into our scheme.

“But yeah, definitely more intense for me, and that’s great, it feels good to do it. We’ve had a lot of success here, I’ve run the offense before, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity with these guys.”

Myers said the competition is helping the team improve.

“It’s different (without McElvain), but we’ve got a really good quarterback room, a lot of guys competing for that job, and that breeds success when you’ve got guys behind you that are pushing you to get better,” he said. “I’ve never felt better throwing the ball, this summer was great.

“Competition breeds success, I don’t want guys behind me that just give me the job, I want them to push me to be better every day. If you have that at every position, you’re going to have a successful football team.”

Myers said having Brown call plays brings encouragement.

“When you get to hear from the head guy directly, that’s different,” he said. “He’s in every meeting we have, and he played here, he was a great quarterback at UCA, so for him to come full circle to calling plays again, it gives us a lot of encouragement.

“To see how the offense has worked in the past when he was offensive coordinator, the success they’ve had, that’s really awesome, we can do something special.”

UCA opens the season at Missouri on Aug. 28.

CONWAY, Ark. – Coach Nathan Brown prepares to open his eighth season at the helm of Central Arkansas, and starts fall camp on Wednesday with the first of 19 practices before the season opener later in August.

After five players were named to the Preseason All-UAC Team, the Bears are finally ready to put rubber to the road as the squad preps for the 2025 season. Behind two well-awarded senior offensive linemen, Will Diggins and Jamal Mull, the Bears open camp with a host of new faces in key positions.

UCA will also look for increased production from freshman All-American wideout Malachi Henry, and more backfield touches for sophomore running back Landen Chambers.

Defensively, the Bears return a good number of defensive backs, including Preseason All-UAC selection Dillon Williams. Also back on defense are linebacker Buck Cobbs and lineman Bradley Clark, who combined for 14.0 tackles for loss last season.

The Bears take their first official snaps of fall camp on Wednesday, practicing from 9-11 a.m. each day through the end of the week, with practice on Sunday set for 3:30 p.m.

The cycle repeats until August 19, with Monday through Saturday practices from 9-11 a.m., and Sunday practices from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

UCA will have two scrimmages, one on Saturday, August 9, and the second on August 16.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were counting on rookie outside linebacker David Walker from Central Arkansas to inject new energy into their defense this fall.

Instead, Walker will spend his first NFL season on the sidelines after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament during a non-contact drill in last Friday’s training camp practice, a blow across the team’s facility and left coaches and teammates scrambling to fill a sudden void.

Walker, a fourth-round draft pick out of UCA, had quickly impressed coaches with his speed and tenacity. Just weeks into his first pro camp, he’d found himself working with the second-team defense and drawing praise from veterans for his work ethic.

That momentum came to a halt when Walker went down late in practice, grabbing his right knee. He was able to limp off with assistance, but the concern was immediate and, by Monday, confirmed.

Walker will undergo surgery and miss the entire 2025 season, coach Todd Bowles told reporters on Monday.

“It’s tough, especially for a young guy who was showing so much promise,” Bowles said. “David had earned a lot of respect in a short time. We’ll support him all the way through his recovery and look forward to getting him back next year.”

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Buccaneers, whose defense is in transition after several offseason departures. Walker was one of a handful of rookies expected to compete for snaps in a linebacking corps looking to get younger and faster.

His absence forces the Buccaneers to dig deeper into their depth chart, a storyline that’s become all too familiar for NFL teams as preseason injury lists grow longer each year .

Across the league, ACL injuries remain a persistent problem. Through the first week of camps in 2025, at least six rookies or second-year players have already been sidelined with torn ligaments.

For Walker, the setback comes just as his NFL journey was gaining steam.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Buccaneers defensive captain Lavonte David. “He was soaking up every bit of knowledge, always asking questions. You hate to see a young guy lose a year like that.”

Walker’s story had drawn attention even before his injury. Lightly recruited out of high school, he became one of UCA’s most productive defenders.

His faith and work ethic were the stuff of preseason features.

“I’m big on my faith,” Walker told local reporters last month. “I’ve overcome a lot to get here. Every day in this league is a blessing.”

Walker’s injury occurred on a running play late in practice, according to team insiders. He stayed on the ground for several minutes before being helped to his feet.

“You could tell right away it was serious,” said fellow rookie Sterling Shepard, who was among the first to reach Walker on the field. “He just kept saying, ‘I’ll be back. I’ll be back.’ That’s who he is.”

The Buccaneers placed Walker on injured reserve Monday, officially sidelining him for the season but preserving a spot on the roster for his return in 2026.

While the team has weathered major injuries before, the ripple effects of losing a promising rookie are especially acute.

“Depth is everything,” Bowles said. “Football is a game of attrition, but you never get used to this part.”

Walker’s injury also reignites debate about the demands of NFL training camps. Team medical staff have increased emphasis on injury prevention, but the physical nature of the sport and the drive among rookies to make an impression means risk is never far away.

“There’s only so much you can do,” said Dr. James Andrews, renowned orthopedic surgeon. “The ACL is vulnerable, particularly for athletes changing direction at high speed. Sometimes it’s just bad luck.”

For now, the Buccaneers must turn to other young prospects and veterans to fill Walker’s spot in the rotation. The team had already added depth at linebacker in free agency, but Walker’s versatility and special teams potential made him a unique fit.

“We’ll have to adapt,” said defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers. “You can’t replace a guy like that overnight, but the next man up has to be ready.”

Walker, meanwhile, begins the long road to recovery. He’s expected to undergo surgery this week and begin a rehab process that could last nine to 12 months.

“I’ve been through adversity before,” he wrote on his Instagram page Monday night. “This is just another chapter. I’ll be back stronger, and I’ll be cheering on my brothers every step of the way.”

The outpouring of support from teammates and fans has been immediate.

“He’s got all of Tampa behind him,” said Bowles. “You don’t stop rooting for someone just because they can’t play. He’s a part of this team, and he always will be.”

Now the Buccaneers move forward, but their rookie linebacker’s absence will be felt long after the season opener. “Football teaches you to get back up,” said Lavonte David. “We’re all pulling for him to do just that.”