By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southern junior running back Kendrick Smith got cleared to play Friday afternoon and was expected to travel here in the evening in order to play in today’s season opener.
“He’ll be here for the game, some kind of way,” SU spokesman Kevin Manns said.
Smith was one of two Jaguars not to get on the bus when the team left campus Thursday. Sophomore center Ramon Chinyoung, the team’s No. 1 option on a line decimated by academic casualties since the spring, was the other. Chinyoung, who practiced earlier in the week, was not cleared yet.
Southern, which plays Florida A&M at 2 p.m. in Legion Field, packed the gear for both players on the bus in hopes one or both would become eligible.
SU coach Pete Richardson said earlier in the week he was optimistic of Smith’s chances of getting cleared.
Despite not playing last season, Smith is expected to add punch to Southern’s running game, along with improved senior Darren Coates and sophomore Brian Threat.
A star at Patterson High who was once offered a scholarship by LSU, Smith ran for 1,902 yards and 24 touchdowns in two years at Coffeyville Community College. He signed with Southern Illinois, a Division I-AA member like Southern, in February 2006 but never played there, instead transferring to SU a year ago.
Without Chinyoung, senior Demarcus Stewart will start at center. Stewart started last season at center but Chinyoung’s improvement last season allowed him to move to guard. Sophomore Daniel Stephens, a nonqualifier last season, and junior Myles Williams, the starter at right tackle, can back Demarcus Stewart. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Rodrell Stewart should start at right guard.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southern junior running back Kendrick Smith got cleared to play Friday afternoon and was expected to travel here in the evening in order to play in today’s season opener.
“He’ll be here for the game, some kind of way,” SU spokesman Kevin Manns said.
Smith was one of two Jaguars not to get on the bus when the team left campus Thursday. Sophomore center Ramon Chinyoung, the team’s No. 1 option on a line decimated by academic casualties since the spring, was the other. Chinyoung, who practiced earlier in the week, was not cleared yet.
Southern, which plays Florida A&M at 2 p.m. in Legion Field, packed the gear for both players on the bus in hopes one or both would become eligible.
SU coach Pete Richardson said earlier in the week he was optimistic of Smith’s chances of getting cleared.
Despite not playing last season, Smith is expected to add punch to Southern’s running game, along with improved senior Darren Coates and sophomore Brian Threat.
A star at Patterson High who was once offered a scholarship by LSU, Smith ran for 1,902 yards and 24 touchdowns in two years at Coffeyville Community College. He signed with Southern Illinois, a Division I-AA member like Southern, in February 2006 but never played there, instead transferring to SU a year ago.
Without Chinyoung, senior Demarcus Stewart will start at center. Stewart started last season at center but Chinyoung’s improvement last season allowed him to move to guard. Sophomore Daniel Stephens, a nonqualifier last season, and junior Myles Williams, the starter at right tackle, can back Demarcus Stewart. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Rodrell Stewart should start at right guard.
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