Southern offensive line takes injury hit
Southern offensive lineman Aaron Hall (60) is helped off the field by his teammates Daniel Brown (98) and Clinton Boyd (71) on Saturday.
At 68.3 yards per game, running the ball was already difficult for Southern.
And now even more so.
After injuring his right knee on Saturday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, center Aaron Hall will miss the rest of the season. Watching Wednesday’s practice with a large brace on his knee, Hall said he tore three ligaments when a UAPB player fell and rolled into the side of his leg, and his absence leaves the line without its anchor.
Instead of the 6-foot-4, 351-pound junior, the Jaguars will turn to Terrell Lee (6-foot-2, 301), and Lee will have plenty of help from the rest of the line.
“Aaron knew everything,” left tackle Chris Browne said. “He was making the calls, so I think now I have to step in and take over the role of making the calls. That was his third year in the offense, and Terrell doesn’t know the calls as well, so I have to identify the (linebackers), call out the fronts and things like that when we’re lining up.”
Left guard Zach Brown echoed that, saying he and right guard Dwayne Houston would have to be more vocal as well, with quarterback Dray Joseph also taking on more responsibility.
Brown has injury issues of his own, as he left Saturday’s game with a turned ankle, but he said he expects to be ready for this weekend’s game against Prairie View.
Richardson out
More bad injury news came via return man Jaleel Richardson, who is out with a wrist injury. Richardson leads the Jaguars with 12 returns for 315 yards, including an 86-yard touchdown against Jackson State.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” interim coach Dawson Odums said of his team’s ailments. “We’ll have to put somebody back there.”
With No. 2 returner Virgil Williams hampered by a shoulder injury, the next best options would be receiver Charles Hawkins, running back Terence Clayton and defensive back Justin Morgan.
Miller a Packer
Former Southern defensive tackle Jordan Miller found a new NFL home on Tuesday, when the Green Bay Packers added him to their practice squad.
Miller spent last season on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad, then was signed to the 53-man roster for the season finale. He battled for a spot during preseason camp before being released on Aug. 31.
The 6-foot-1, 309-pounder played at SU from 2008-10, finishing with 90 tackles (30 for loss) and 18 sacks.
According to the Packers’ website, he will wear No. 91.
After the announcement, Miller posted the following message on his Twitter page: “I had a great time in Chicago. Great fans, great teammates, great city. But change is good sometimes. I’m excited to be a Packer.”
Bus trips available
Fans wanting to attend Saturday’s game against Prairie View in Shreveport have several bus trip options to choose from.
The Blue & Gold Fan Club ($100), Sixth Man Club ($110) and S.U.U.O. ($95) are all offering packages that include transportation and game tickets.
For more information, contact Blue & Gold (Craig Pierre at 225-324-7234 or Robert Square at 225-931-4052), Sixth Man (Al Jones at 225-907-7212 or Fred Green at 225-388-9304), or S.U.U.O. (225-355-6886, 225-357-3833 or 225-774-7617).