By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Florida A&M head football coach Rubin Carter is hoping to get some reinforcements in time for Saturday's home opener against MEAC opponent Delaware State.
Senior running back Anthony Edwards is expected to be among those reinforcements Friday. Edwards, FAMU's leading rusher in 2006, missed most of preseason camp with arthritis in his foot and did not travel with the team to Birmingham, Ala., for Saturday's season opener against Southern.
FAMU statistically did well rushing the ball (194 yards, 3 touchdowns), particularly freshman Philip Sylvester out of Marianna High School, who rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns against Southern.
There were several short-yardage and goal-line situations, however where FAMU's running game faltered. Edwards at 5-11, 230 pounds thrived in those type of situations last season.
"With his ability to run the ball, he should be able to complement Philip Sylvester," Carter said about Edwards. "We're looking forward to getting him back in the fold.
"Anthony understands his role in goal-line situations and third- and fourth-and-one situations. There were places within the game where we could have placed him in a position to help us execute and sustain drives."
Edwards, a 2007 preseason All-MEAC Second Team selection, looked strong in practice Tuesday and said he is ready to play against Delaware State.
"I feel like there were places where I could have helped the team a lot," Edwards said. "At the same time, I feel that the team was good enough to be able to do it without me. It's been three years, and I haven't beaten Delaware State yet. We got to take it to them."
Sophomore running back Demitric Henry is also expected to play Saturday after traveling to Birmingham but not playing Saturday. Henry, the team's second leading rusher last season, has been recovering from a pulled hamstring suffered in preseason camp.
FAMU Marching 100: Song--SOS
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