Plenty of slots to fill at A&M

Today's practice starts process of finding new stars. When Alabama A&M takes the field today, it will begin arguably the most important spring football practice of Anthony Jones' tenure. The Bulldogs, who have thrived during Jones' eight seasons, averaging almost eight wins a year, have some huge holes to fill if they hope to defend their Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division title next season.

Running back Ulysses Banks, receiver Thomas Harris and place-kicker Jeremy Licea - who combined for more than 9,000 all-purpose yards and almost 600 points during their record-setting careers - are all gone along with defensive end Jeremy Maddox, who finished second to Indianapolis Colts star Robert Mathis in career sacks and tackles for loss at A&M. "Our goal is to try to establish some guys that can help us replace some of the guys we lost," Jones said. "We lost a lot on the offensive side of the ball. We lost a lot of points and yards, but we've got to find somebody that's going to believe in themselves and somebody that the team is going to believe in.

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