VALDOSTA — Valdosta State head coach Kerwin Bell wanted to evaluate his team’s depth at defensive back, running back and offensive line at the Blazers’ second spring scrimmage Thursday.

All three units had up-and-down scrimmages on a day largely ruled by the defense.

Now eight days into spring camp, the Blazers’ offense and defense were chirping back and forth even before the full-team scrimmage got underway.

Once the action began, the scrimmage was highlighted by big hits and effusive celebrations of big plays on both sides.

Valdosta State has been low on healthy bodies this spring, and in turns it’s restricted how many reps the team has been able to run. The problem didn’t get any better Thursday when another offensive lineman had to leave the field.

Two other players were also helped off the field as the Blazers’ injury woes continue. VSU has resorted to playing guys out of position along the offensive lines just to piece together a unit for reps.

“We’re so beat up, we’ve got guys playing where they’re not supposed to play,” Bell said. “We’re so thin there, it’s hard to get things done with the first group, and then the second, you don’t have a chance.”

The Blazers’ offensive line will likely look much different in the summer once Brandon Kemp returns from injury and junior college transfer Jordan Harris is cleared to suit up, but for now, the rash of injuries has at least given Bell an opportunity to look at players that could make for valuable depth come fall.

There was one job in particular where the No. 1 offense put together a tough, grinding series on the ground, and the Blazers broke off a handful of explosive plays in the run game, including a long touchdown run by Kenny Benjamin on a outside zone play.

Quahlin Patterson continues his steady play as the Blazers No. 1 back this spring, but Bell also liked what he saw in his first extended view of Jamar Thompkins, describing the redshirt freshman as fast and physical with potential.

However, for the positives the offensive line showed, it was too often overmatched in the red zone, and they were too often beaten in pass protection — though the experience comes against one of the deeps positions on the team.

“We’re not going against a cupcake defensive line,” Bell said. “We’ve got 9-10 guys that can go, and that’s impressive right now without Guito (Ervilus), who is coming back from injury also, who is going to be special on the end.”

Disruption caused by Valdosta State’s defensive line seemed to make each of the four quarterbacks rotating throughout the scrimmage uncomfortable, allowing the secondary to make its presence felt.

The Blazers’ secondary came up with four interceptions, two returned for a touchdown and another a one-handed stab in the end zone to kill an offensive possession.

Though the offensive-minded Bell was surely a bit frustrated by the play of his defensive backs in the heat of the moment, he came away impressed with the group, and especially the play of 6-foot-4, 210-pound corner Stephen Denmark, who had one of the day’s two pick-6s.

“We’re so young back there, and unproven, that it’s good to see some guys make plays in that secondary, especially like Denmark,” Bell said. “We moved him over there from receiver last year, and we think he can be a shutdown guy. He’s got NFL potential. He’s that athletic.

“Now, can be tenacious and physical the way he showed today? If he can do that, and bring people to the ground, we’ve got something special there.”

Derrick Davis is the sports editor at the Valdosta Daily Times.