UAB Scrimmage shows Progress Is Real–As Is Work That Must Be Done.
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - April 11, 2026
Turnovers and a Rod Robinson touchdown were part UAB’s second full-scale scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday. And just like the first scrimmage, UAB head coach Alex Mortensen saw plenty of good sprinkled in with some frustrations.
“Yeah, number one, first thing we're looking for is effort and I think our effort and energy was pretty good,” Mortensen said after the scrimmage that lasted around two hours. “Pleased with that overall. Obviously, the film will tell us more as to did we have loafs and did guys finish plays, but the general feel of it was good. Then I think fundamentally, you know, there are things that we're looking to improve and I think we saw some progress in those areas. We still had, again, it depends on how you look at it. We had a couple turnovers offensively you want to eliminate and then yet I also am pleased with our defense because they generated some of those, whether that's by applying pressure on a quarterback and forcing a tough throw or whether that's stripping the ball out and doing a good job finishing the play. So that's another component. Obviously, the turnover margin is a huge factor, and so it's something we're going to coach every single day.”
On a day where both sides had success it was a turnover that was perhaps the highlight. Anta’Veon McKenzie, a transfer from Sacramento State, who is playing with the first team defense at the nickel spot, grabbed the spotlight with a one-handed interception on pass thrown across the middle. McKenzie cut in front of the receiver, used his left hand to provide a shield and reached high with his right hand to grab the football.
“Oh man, I mean, it was unbelievable,” McKenzie said. “I'm just thankful for God, man. The receiver ran the seam and I kind of collisioned him. I saw the ball in the air, just went up and grabbed it. I mean, it was unbelievable. Thankful for that moment.”
That was one of four turnovers on the day with cornerback Draden Fullbright grabbing an interception and linebacker Ike Esonwune and Que Billingsley recovering fumbles. Billingsley turned his recovery into a touchdown after a 59-yard return.
At times, the defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s group also did a good job of pressuring the quarterback and getting into the backfield on running plays.
“I think we've got guys that can rush the quarterback and I think we've got the ability to rush with four,” Mortensen said. “And I also think Coach Grantham’s got a great package of ways to attack protections through scheme and pressures. There's a nice balance there of how they can affect the quarterback. And then, of course, that second offensive line, we have some good players on that group and then we've got a couple (of young) guys. We've got two guys that one of them just went to prom and one of them is about to be going to prom soon. You have to take that with a grain of salt. Those guys are doing the best they can right now, but it's a lot for them. That's why we're also trying to mix the groups up so the defense, so these pass rushers are working against some of the veteran offensive alignment too. It helps us evaluate them a little bit better.”
The scrimmage featured about 65 plays of regular scrimmage and the rest in situational work. The lone touchdown in the regular portion of the scrimmage was a 20-yard run by Robinson. On the play, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Robinson ran through a good hole at the line of scrimmage, ran through the first defender and cut to the left sideline. Quarterback Ryder Burton ran with him down the left sideline, ready to throw a lead block, and Robinson made it to the end zone.
Robinson was asked afterward what it felt like to have the team’s starting quarterback serving as a lead blocker downfield.
“It means everything to me, just to know that somebody that isn't really out there on the field for contact, to go out there and put his body on the line for me makes me want to play even harder for him.”
For the record, Burton was wearing a red jersey, signifying non-contact, on the play, meaning a defender couldn’t run into him. Esonwune smiled when asked what would happen if a quarterback tried to block him on game day.
“You wouldn't want to know,” Esonwune said. “It wouldn't be good (for the quarterback).”
Burton had another solid day. He was nearly 100 percent on his passes during the regular scrimmage and drove the team for a touchdown on the opening series. He threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Elder during situational work. Nate Rogers, Adrian Posse and Cameron Jennings also did some good things at quarterback.
UAB now heads into its final week of spring practice. The Blazers will practice three times next week and close the session with the Spring Showcase on Saturday morning at Legacy Pavilion.