Spring practice isn't one of the most glamorous times of the year for college football teams.
You're often not getting to play in front of many fans when the spring game rolls around, and you aren't playing with your full arsenal of players that will be on the roster once the camp opens up in the summer.
But it's one of the most crucial stretches for many players and the coaches evaluating them as they get their first look at those players after a winter spent in the weight room and conditioning.
It's a chance in those 15 practices to show that, if you're a younger player who didn't play much, or someone looking to take on a bigger role, you're ready for that responsibility.
For the University of Charleston, aspiring to rebound from last year's 3-8 finish while trying to replace six of the eight players who earned All-Mountain East Conference honors in 2016, this spring is crucial for that reason.
"It's big for your young guys, it's big for the [seven] new guys we've brought in midyear who are all guys who we think can come in and help out a lot," Charleston coach Pat Kirkland said. "For the ones who have been in the program, they're a year older now and it's time to show they're ready to step up and start contributing."
Those seven midyear signees that UC added and brought in to provide depth include offensive linemen Miles Cobb, Deya Mhiesen, Michael Walker and Jacob Winkle, as well as wide receiver Tyreik McAlister, linebacker Kazon Edwards and defensive back Henry Houchins.
For the coaching staff, it's a time to get in with those players and work hands-on with them to help them get better and continue to grasp the team's schemes more than they have since the end of last season.
In this limited period of time, they can lay an important foundation for what the next year's group might look like when it's time to get back into action.
"This is where you learn the most. They've been in the weight room a lot, but games aren't won and lost in there - even though that's how you can become a better player," Kirkland said. "This game has become so reliant on the mental side of things that you have to get them out here to get them reps and you have to get them in the meeting room to watch film. This is what we're geared toward to get moving in the right direction.
"You only get 15 of these practices. You can't afford to not have a good one."
When it comes time to sit down and make a depth chart at the end of the spring, Kirkland and his staff will take a look throughout the roster and see which players made the most of those practices. With several key positions up for grabs this season, they're looking for the players who made every snap count throughout this spring.
While he likes what he's seen so far, there's still plenty of work to do.
It doesn't matter if he's a rising senior looking to keep a job and make the jump up to a key contributor, a sophomore or junior looking to rise up the depth chart into a starting spot or a freshman who redshirted last season and is trying to prove he belongs on the field - the team knows it's going to come down to who can make the most plays with the chances they get. It's up to them to show the coaches what they can do this spring.
"I don't care if you're a true freshman or a fifth-year senior, whoever is going to put us in the best position to be successful on the field and is getting the job done is who is going to play," Kirkland said. "Some of these younger guys are getting some valuable reps and they have to take advantage of them. We don't consider them freshmen anymore, it's up to them to prove they belong out there."
Contact Michael Carvelli at 304-348-4810 or michael.carvelli@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @carvelli3.