Alabama A&M notebook

Huntsville Times



Harper slated to start against Texas Southern

Defensive tackle Justin Harper, who was named Alabama A&M's co-defensive Player of the Week for his effort against Grambling last week, will start Saturday against Texas Southern, defensive line coach Ben Blacknall said Wednesday.

Harper, who lost his job to Whitney Garrett last spring and had surgery on his thumb during preseason practice and missed the season opener against Tennessee State, will start at left tackle in place of Renaldo Askew, Blacknall said. Garrett will make his fifth consecutive start at right tackle.

"He played better than any defensive tackle we had," Blacknall said of Harper's effort against the Tigers. "He deserves an opportunity to start."

The Bulldogs, who have annually been among the league's best against the run, are seventh in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in rushing defense, allowing 127 yards per game.

Harper, a 6-foot-2, 252-pound junior from Gulfport, Miss., was credited with nine tackles, including six solos, two tackles for loss and a sack while grading out 92 percent.

Early starter: Texas Southern coach Steve Wilson said if he had to do it over again he would have redshirted quarterback Tino Edgecombe.

A 6-2, 185-pound senior from Miami, Edgecombe was pressed into action as a freshman and Wilson said that has affected him throughout his career.

"Tino had to come through a situation where we had to play him as a freshman and we didn't have people to protect him and that hindered his growth," Wilson said. "He had some breakout games last season, but we haven't been able to get him in a rhythm this season.

"Part of it is our offensive line being unsettled. He made some plays last week (against UTEP) that proved he can be an outstanding quarterback."

Edgecombe is fourth in the league in passing yards per game, averaging 162.5 yards.

He has completed 64-of-112 passes (57.1 percent) for 650 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Smith likes ball distribution: A&M tight end John Smith admits he would like to see a few more balls thrown his way, but he says he can't complain with the way quarterback Kelcy Luke is distributing the football.

Ten players have caught passes and six different players have caught touchdown passes.

Wide receiver Thomas Harris and tight end Charles Moody have 17 catches apiece. Smith has eight followed by wide receivers Rashad Johnson and Gerald Stockdale, who have six apiece.

"The distribution is pretty good," said Smith, who has eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. "We've got a lot of talent out there. No one person is above the team."

Reggie Benson