Traylor moving along Alabama A&M defensive line

By Reggie Benson, Huntsville Times

Chris Traylor, Alabama A&M's All-Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason defensive end, could likely line up anywhere along the Bulldogs' defensive line this season, line coach Ben Blacknall said.

Traylor has more sacks (26.5) than anybody else in the SWAC the last three seasons and tied for the conference lead with 9.5 last season despite missing four games.

"We're going to try to free him up so they won't be able to double team him because he's our best pass rusher," Blacknall said.

Traylor needs 15.5 sacks to break former A&M standout Robert Mathis' career record. Mathis had 41.5 sacks during his brilliant career.

Starters are set: Offensive coordinator Cedric Pearl, who also oversees A&M's offensive line, has settled on his five starters.

Junior Darius Turner will start at left tackle, redshirt freshman Russell Jackson will start at left guard, sophomore Xavier Manuel will start at center, sophomore Charles Meade will start at right guard and senior James Sanders will start at right tackle.

"That group has been pretty solid during camp," Pearl said.

Turner and Sanders were full-time starters last season. Sanders is a first-team All-SWAC preseason pick, while Turner earned second-team honors.

Pearl said he has yet to settle on a second unit, but left tackle Anquez Jackson, left guard Phillip Thomas and center Darrius Martin will likely play. Meade, Pearl said, can also play center, while Sanders can play guard.

"We're going to play our best eight linemen and some of them are going to have to be versatile," Pearl said.

Youth movement at DT: Injuries have forced Blacknall to get some young guys ready to play, but he says they can be effective.

Left tackle David Winston has a back injury and could miss the season opener against Tennessee State, while right tackle Justin Harper will undergo surgery on his injured left thumb today.

As a result, junior Whitney Garrett will start at right tackle and sophomore Renaldo Askew will start at left tackle. Garrett and Askew have played sparingly during their careers.

Garrett and Askew will be backed up by redshirt freshman Michael Powe and true freshman Frank Kearse.

"We're going to get those guys ready and get them some game experience," Blacknall said. "They're better than they were last year and they're getting better everyday. I've got confidence they can get out there and make some plays for us."

Even though Kearse is a true freshman, Blacknall says he's been as good as any tackle during training camp.

"He has been a blessing," Blacknall said of Kearse, who is 6-foot-4 and 281 pounds. "If he wasn't playing like he's playing right now, I don't know what we'd do. His play in camp has been so good that he deserves to play some.

"We can't afford anymore injuries. If we can keep these guys healthy, I think our productivity will still be good. We're hoping to get Dave back, but we just don't know. We don't want to play him and something happens where we lost him for a long period of time."