Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Rattlers feel bite of several key absences

Photo: Florida A&M University strength and conditioning coach Jeff Woods gives wide receiver Willie Hayward work out tips, Monday, July 16, 2007, at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Fla.


By Heath A. Smith, TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Several key players were not out on the field Monday afternoon for the Florida A&M football team's first practice of the 2007 season.

Among the missing in action were junior offensive lineman Stephen Brazzle and senior receiver Ronald Wright, both projected starters this season.

FAMU head football coach Rubin Carter said Brazzle, who started at center last year, was out with the same shoulder injury that forced him to miss action last season.

Carter did not give a date for Brazzle's return, but said that it was possible that he could be out all of preseason camp.

"We want him to get healthy before he comes back out here," Carter said.
Carter said that Wright was allowed to miss practice to tend to some personal issues, but he hoped to see the receiver report to camp within a week.

Senior running back Anthony Edwards and senior safety Khalil Sutton were at practice, but had not yet been medically cleared to participate.

Carter also said defensive backs Jonathon Ferrell and Aljamar Grant, part of the 2007 signing class, had not qualified to play this season and were not at camp.

Ferrell was signed out of FAMU High and Grant signed out of Sarasota Booker.
Carter also said that receiver Nikita White from Pahokee and defensive lineman Victory Nettles from Pensacola Woodham failed to qualify academically to play this season.

White and Nettles were part of the 2006 signing class, but failed to qualify to play last season.

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