Alabama A&M notebook

Reggie Benson, Huntsville Times

Jackson expected back; Regist remains sidelined

Offensive lineman Russell Jackson, who has missed the last two days with a strained neck, is expected to participate in today's scrimmage, Alabama A&M athletic trainer John Gaines said Friday night.

Jackson, who had been working with the first offense at right guard, complained earlier this week and has been held out the last couple of days.

"He shouldn't have any restrictions," Gaines said of Jackson, a 6-foot-2, 302-pound redshirt freshman from Riverdale, Ga. "He had a little soreness and we're just being cautious because it's early in camp and we didn't want to rush him back where we could lose him."

While Jackson is slated to return, offensive lineman Antonio Regist won't participate in the scrimmage.

Regist, who missed all of last season after undergoing surgery on his left ankle, aggravated his left foot earlier this week.

"He's got a sprained mid-foot," Gaines said of Regist, a 6-3, 365-pounder from San Antonio.

"He stepped in a hole. It's improving every day, but we're going to keep him off of it another day or two."

Gaines said Regist could be back as early as Monday.

Towns looks at young DBs: Defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns is eager to see some of his younger players in the secondary in today's scrimmage.

Towns said redshirt freshmen Chris Faush, Korey Morrison and Marcus Thomas will get extensive work today.

"We've got to get those guys some work," Towns said.

"We're losing three guys in the secondary this year and we'll need those guys to be ready to play."

Furthermore: Running back Max Martin missed Friday's morning session while taking care of some summer school business. Martin, who transferred to A&M from Alabama in January, needed six hours in summer school to be eligible this season and appears to have gotten them. ... Junior defensive back Cheven Kimbrough, who reported late for preseason practice because of a death in the family, worked at free safety Friday. Kimbrough, who spent his first two seasons at cornerback, could move to free safety permanently because backup Kentavious Huguley is sidelined with a groin injury.