Austin Bates is back on the gridiron.

Bates, who starred for the Sheldon-Williams Spartans football team in 2006 and 2007, is among the hopefuls at the Regina Thunder's training camp.

"You could just say that I have the itch to play more football,'' Bates, a linebacker, said after the PFC team practised Sunday at Scotty Livingstone Field.

Bates played middle linebacker for the Regina Intercollegiate Football League's Spartans in 2006 before doubling as one of the Schwann Conference's top receivers the following year.

He has not played a game of competitive football since the 2008 Senior Bowl -- Football Saskatchewan's annual showcase of the province's top graduating high school players.

From there, his focus shifted to basketball. He was a rookie with the University of Regina Cougars men's hoopsters during the 2008-09 Canada West season. He is to remain enrolled at the U of R with the objective of concentrating on academics.

He hopes to eventually rejoin the university's athletic program, perhaps in football and basketball.

"Last year, I had a first-year head on my shoulders and it wasn't the right one to have on,'' Bates said. "Now I think I'm maturing a little bit and realizing that I'm there to get a degree and not to play sports.''

Basketball-wise, Bates was pleased with the amount of playing time he received under head coach James Hillis.

"I did get quite a few minutes for a rookie,'' the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder said. "But when you're not keeping up your end of the bargain in the school end of things, there's nothing that the team or the coach can do. It's my fault.''

Bates vows to make the best of the situation by excelling in school and satisfying his craving for sports by playing for the Thunder.

"It felt very, very different (during the first weekend of camp),'' he said.

"On Friday and Saturday, I can say that I was fairly shaky. It'll take a little bit to get back used to the hitting and using different muscles, but (Sunday) it went much better. I always look forward to a challenge.''

The Thunder is preparing for Saturday's pre-season game in Brandon against the Winnipeg Rifles.

The Thunder's regular-season opener is Aug. 9 in Edmonton against the Huskies.

Regina's home opener is Aug. 15, 7 p.m., against the Saskatoon Hilltops on Taylor Field.

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