Delaware State Lavan wants Jones healthy before return

Photo: #4 - Jones, Kareem, RB, 5-11/200, Jr., Lansingburg, NY (Lansingburg HS)

By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal

DOVER -- What's the deal with Kareem Jones?

After rushing for 171 yards in his Delaware State University football debut against Coastal Carolina on Sept. 1, Jones has carried the ball four times in two games.

Hornets coach Al Lavan said Jones injured his knee in the 23-18 win over Coastal Carolina. That led Lavan to limit Jones to four carries in a win over Florida A&M.

Then, last Saturday at Division I-A Kent State, Jones was dressed and looked healthy on the sidelines but did not see action.

And Jones was missed -- at least in the first half -- as his replacement, Chris Strother, rushed for 30 yards on 20 carries.

"I'm heading to practice right now," Jones said as he jogged to the field on Wednesday. "I was ready to play at Kent State. I'll play [the next game]."

Jones practiced with the first team on Wednesday, but it's still too early to know if he'll start at Hampton on Sept. 29.

The Pirates are the three-time defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions and are the odds-on favorite to win a fourth title.

The game should determine DSU's chances for its first championship since 1991 when it won a share of it with North Carolina A&T.

When asked how his knee felt, Jones said, "It's a little tight."

Lavan said Jones has not undergone any diagnostic scans or X-rays of his knee, nor has he worn a brace.

After beating FAMU 20-7 to improve to 2-0, Lavan admitted not using Jones in the game because he didn't want to risk a more significant injury.

This week, Lavan has been a little more aloof as to why he didn't play Jones against Kent State.

"Kareem is ready to go," Lavan said earlier this week. "It's just the normal bumps and bruises. We made a decision to go with a two-back set [in the 38-7 loss at Kent State]. I told him I would not play him. It's better in the long run for him to be totally healthy."

Even with his team trailing 7-0 at halftime, Lavan stuck with Strother and third option Lennox Norville while Jones walked around the sideline.

Jones, a transfer from Syracuse, gives the Hornets a different look offensively. A straight-ahead runner, Jones has also spent time on the kickoff return team and brought one back 74 yards.

"It was hard to watch the Kent game from the sidelines," Jones said. "I was really looking forward to showing them what I could do."

Jones left Syracuse over the summer due to a bloated Orange backfield. At the time, Jones' high school coach, Pete Porcelli, said the Jones was interested in landing at either Delaware State or Hampton.

Jones said Wednesday he never visited Hampton.