TSU corner Hall expected back for Southern game

By MIKE ORGAN, the Tennessean

Tennessee State starting cornerback Marquez Hall, who missed last week's game at Austin Peay, returned to the practice field Tuesday and expects to play when the Tigers play at Southern at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Hall, a freshman transfer from Vanderbilt, suffered a high ankle sprain late in the game against Jackson State on Sept. 8.

"He says he's ready to go,'' said TSU Coach James Webster. "Southern throws the ball well and it would be a huge boost for us if he's able to play."

Webster said he thought about allowing Hall to play against Austin Peay but worried about causing further damage.

In two games, Hall recorded six tackles and came up with TSU's only interception of the season when he picked off a pass against Alabama A&M.

"It's an ankle injury and he's a skill kid and I just didn't want to take the chance of playing him (against Austin Peay),'' Webster said. "We really needed him, but his health was our number one concern."

Junior Kevin Bledsoe, a former Stratford star who made his first start, replaced Hall. Bledsoe played admirably, making three tackles and breaking up a pass, Webster said.

"I thought he played well,'' Webster said. "He had a penalty (pass interference) and it was a big penalty. It was a tough call. But other than that, I was real pleased with the way Bledsoe played."

Feeling better: Two key defensive players suffered from strep throat last week but were feeling better Monday. Starting free safety Anthony Levine didn't make the trip to Austin Peay, while starting tackle Lamar Divens played but was not in the starting lineup.

Both players practiced Monday and are expected to be with the first team Saturday against Southern.

"We need Divens. He's been sick and he's lost a lot of weight,'' Webster said. "That may be good if we can get him back in shape because he'll be lighter. He's coming back to see if he's going to be OK."