FAMU Chester should be ready

Photo: FAMU QB Albert Chester II--#2

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

It looks like Florida A&M will have its starting quarterback for Saturday's season opener against Southern. The same can not be said for one of the Rattlers' starting cornerbacks.

Redshirt-senior quarterback Albert Chester II participated in all of Thursday's practice after complaining of a painful tingling sensation in his right arm, which forced him to sit out the second half of Wednesday's practice.

While the news appears good for Chester, it wasn't so good for sophomore cornerback Donovan Johnson, who did not make the trip to Birmingham with the team Thursday afternoon.

Carter said Johnson, a starter last season as a true freshman from Miami Booker T Washington High School, wasn't cleared to play before the team left Thursday.

Johnson is one of a handful of players who won't be traveling to Birmingham with the team because of eligibility issues.

Carter said those players may still be able to return to the team if they can get their eligibility issues resolved.

"The thing is we're not alone in this type of thing occurring during this time of the year," Carter said. "Usually you have an extra day. You don't leave on Thursday.

"That allows you to have until Friday to be able to assess your team and for the kids to get issues resolved academically. We're a day short and this is what has occurred with our football team. We'll weather the storm and get ready for the game Saturday."

Redshirt-sophomore Gregory Clark, and freshmen Qier Hall and Curtis Holcomb, are the top candidates to step in for Johnson across from sophomore cornerback Michael Creary, who has missed the last two practices with a hip flexor.

Creary, a preseason All-MEAC first team selection, is expected to start against Southern.

"Mike is making progress and it appears that he will be ready to go," Carter said. "He's a fierce competitor and he wants to be out there for the first game of the season."