By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
Sophomore offensive tackle Allen Buckner and redshirt freshman guard Joshua Keelen are academically ineligible for this season, Southern coach Pete Richardson said on Monday.
Their absence will further sap the Jaguars’ already-taxed front line.
Buckner and Keelen missed much of preseason camp, but the team had previously lost senior guard Jacoby Collins and junior guard Adrian Banks to grades.
Meanwhile, sophomore center Ramon Chinyoung, essentially the quarterback of the line, also still needs to be cleared for the season opener, against Florida A&M at 2 p.m. Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.
“It’s going to be tough, because we’re going to be thin,” Richardson said. “We’ve done a good job of cross-training some kids, but it’s going to be an experience for some of them.
“That’s just the hand we’ve got to play. Hopefully, we won’t come down with any major injuries and can get through it.”
SU has mixed and matched already in preseason camp.
Senior tight end Trent Thomas moved inside to left tackle. That pushed junior Rafael to left guard. And junior Frank Harry moved over from defensive tackle last week.
The staff had wanted to redshirt true freshman tackle Leslie Davis this season, but Davis may have to play.
“He’s coming along,” Richardson said. “I was kind of surprised. He picked up some weight and he’s learning the position. I think he’s going to be alright. We planned on redshirting him but because of the attrition he may have to give us some plays up there.”
SU is currently working with 11 offensive linemen, including five who would be playing for the first time. Plus, Thomas is at a new position.
True freshman guard Brian Bridges, who practiced for much of preseason camp, could still join the team if he gets cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Southern has lost at least 10 players to grades heading into this season and at least 15 since the conclusion of spring practice.
The work
Southern pushed its afternoon practice from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. not because of the rain, but because many players have Monday afternoon classes that conflict with practice. The Jaguars were to have practiced under the lights in A.W. Mumford Stadium, but instead had a walkthrough in the F.G. Clark Activity Center, and that was because of the rain.
The last few seasons, SU has practiced Sunday and taken Monday off in order to avoid the class conflicts and give coaches more time to dissect game film on opponents.
Because the Jaguars already had FAMU’s game films as of last week, the staff wanted to take Sunday off to help the team recover from preseason camp, which ended Saturday, the sixth straight work day.
“The kids needed some time off,” Richardson said.
Quick look at FAMU
Richardson’s thoughts on FAMU: “They’ve got a huge offensive line, which they’ve always had. Defensively, they attack, play man-to-man, run to the football. It’s going to be a big challenge for us.”
Thursday plans
SU will leave by bus to Birmingham about 2 p.m. Thursday and may not practice that day. SU is allotted one hour, at 2 p.m. Friday, at Legion Field, and Richardson said the team might also practice at a local high school. However, the team will also visit the Civil Rights Museum.
“There’s a luncheon and other activities,” Richardson said. “In those type of games, you have to do all the work while you’re here.”
Notes
Junior RB Kendrick Smith must have some paperwork cleared in order to be eligible to play Saturday, Richardson said. Junior DT Joseph Selders (ankle) and senior C/G Demarcus Stewart (knee) returned to practice Monday. Five trees, so far, have been felled in the north end zone area to prep for the eventual construction of an enclosure to Mumford Stadium.
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