Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Chester hopes to return to FAMU practice Wednesday


Photo: Greg Arline, rs-Senior RB, 5-9/190, Lake City Columbia HS, FL

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Starting quarterback Albert Chester II said he expected to return to practice by Wednesday after spraining his throwing shoulder in Saturday's scrimmage.

"That is a realistic time frame for him to return," said FAMU head football coach Rubin Carter. "That will allow him a chance to heal and make sure that there are no problems with that first game."

Chester, a redshirt-senior, hurt his shoulder in the first half of Saturday's scrimmage after colliding with senior defensive end Tyrone McGriff.

Chester was the MEAC leader in total offense (2,306 yards) in 2006 and was named to the 2007 All-MEAC First Team.

Arline gets break

Also sitting out practice Monday was redshirt senior running back Greg Arline, who missed all of 2006 with a knee injury.

"It was just a precaution after his surgery," Carter said. "He sustained a little bit of a bump and bruise and we wanted to make sure he was okay.

"We had a long scrimmage on Saturday and we had a chance to go full speed and hit. In that situation, you are going to see a few bumps and bruises. We anticipate the majority of our injured players will be back by mid-week."

Arline came into preseason camp a year ago competing for the starting running back job before he tore his ACL.

With injuries to Demitric Henry (hamstring), Anthony Edwards (foot) and Andre Jacobs (knee), Arline had been getting work with the first team offense along with freshman Phillip Sylvester.

"He is starting to get his timing back and also get his footing back," Carter said. "That was a bit of a concern as well as him getting confidence in his knee after going through the surgery. He's doing well in that respect.

"The one thing he brings is an ability to execute the offense. He knows the offense very thoroughly and has the ability to make the adjustments necessary within the scheme."

Bonding time

The football team and coaching staff spent some leisure time at the campus student union Sunday.

Among the activities was bowling and ping-pong.

"I usually put some thought into the process," Carter said. "We did the same event two years ago when I first arrived here. I thought it would be a good thing to do again with the freshman and new players. I thought it would be a good way for our team to bond."

Carter said the team responded to the little bit of rest and relaxation with a strong practice Monday.

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