NATCHEZ — For Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson, turning something negative into something positive is always important. So turning multiple injuries in 2014 into multiple returners in 2015 in the form of medical redshirts certainly makes the spring more enjoyable for Hopson.

As the Alcorn State Braves revved up spring practice Tuesday afternoon, Hopson looked around and saw many players taking on starter roles that weren’t starters last season. Most of those players, however, have previous experience but missed last season because of an injury.

“Offensively, we’ve got pretty much everybody back,” Hopson said. “And for the guys we lost, we have some experienced players filling in for them. For instance, we lost running back Anthony Williams, but we have Joe (Price) back. Last year, we had four or five injuries before August, so we had to redshirt those guys. But it’s been a good thing now, because now, they’re back. We have a lot of guys that have played a lot.”

Highlighting that group is wide receiver Tollette George, who suffered a bone spur one day before summer camp last season. George led the Braves in receptions with 52 in 2013. Because of his injury, George was forced to stand by on the sidelines and watch his Alcorn State teammates win a Southwestern Atlantic Conference Championship in 2014, but George was suited up in shoulder pads and helmets for a live scrimmage Tuesday afternoon.

“In the offseason, I’ve been working hard to get myself ready to play,” George said. “I believe I’m around 90 percent by now, and by the time the season gets here, I’ll be ready to play.”

When the period came for a live scrimmage, Alcorn State’s offense and defense traded blows up and down the practice field, as both squads’ pride and endurance was tested by the Alcorn State coaching staff. The defense had its moments early, as Anthony Williams intercepted starting quarterback John Gibbs, prompting the defensive unit to trash talk Gibbs.

“No. 3 (Gibbs) plays defense for us,” one Alcorn player shouted at him.

Gibbs, who was placed on the 2014 All-SWAC First Team after his sophomore season, shook it off.

“This was probably the worst day I’ve had,” Gibbs said. “I was just a little off, but you have those days in football. Sometimes you’re clicking on all cylinders, and other days, you can’t find your groove. The trash talking makes it fun.”

Entering the 2014 season, Gibbs was bothered by his name getting left off of preseason SWAC teams, but he channeled that energy for 2,237 passing yards, 874 rushing yards and 29 total touchdowns.

“Last year, that put a chip on my shoulder,” Gibbs said. “That chip worked because we won the SWAC championship, so this year, I need to find a new chip. I’ll find one.”

Gibbs answered the trash talk Tuesday afternoon with a touchdown pass to Jordan Payne, a fellow first team all-conference selection, on a crossing pattern. New offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss, who was named offensive coordinator on March 20, introduced the crossing pattern in an instructional period with quarterbacks and receivers before the scrimmage. Hopson said Kaiss has made a fine addition to the offense, though most of the offense has been the same thus far.

“Each coach has a different flair that they do,” Hopson said. “I think we’ve pretty much picked back up where we left off last fall.”

Joining Scott and Payne in the receiving game were Jaborian “Tip” McKenzie and Brandon Vessell. Anthony Ragsdale ran with first string at running back.

Making waves on the defensive side of the ball were Deion McNair, who put a good lick on Ragsdale in the backfield, and Quinton Cantue, who recorded two interceptions in the scrimmage.

Hopson was pleased with the effort of both units, and despite the turnovers, thought the offense won the day. But more important than that, he said his team has put in the time and energy it takes to continue the success the Braves have experienced recently.

“The spring is the good, bad and the ugly,” Hopson said. “It’s a learning time, but it’s a helpful time. We’re getting good teaching time, and I see us improving. We just have to continue.”