Injuries force JMU to sit out key players
JMU has high hopes heading into 2006 season
By Whitney Proffitt, contributing writer
Posted on April 24, 2006

The JMU football team wrapped up its spring practice session Saturday afternoon at Bridgeforth Stadium with the annual spring game.

“This is where players are made — in the early off-season,” rising senior quarterback Justin Rascati said.

The purpose of the game is to get a feel for where the team stands as of now.

“We held so many guys out, it was awful hard to really get a good fix on where we were,” Dukes coach Mickey Matthews said.

Several key players, including rising junior free safety Tony LeZotte and rising junior wide receiver L.C. Baker were held out of spring practice due to injuries.

In addition to missing injured players, the team was also working with multiple changes in the lineup.

“It’s an interesting team because we have more returning top players than we ever have,” Matthews said. “But we have two or three positions where we have no one returning, which we’ve never had before, like at tight end, corner and right tackle. We don’t have as balanced returning group as we have in the past.”

Tight end, cornerback and offensive right tackle are the three main position battles.

“A lot of guys have stepped up,” rising sophomore quarterback Rodney Landers said. “It’s going to be heated in the summertime.”

The main contenders for tight end are rising sophomore Mike Caussin, rising junior Marvin Brown and rising sophomore J.D. Skolnitsky. Brown saw a lot of time in the spring game, but Skolnitsky came in for one series.

“At tight end, Mike Caussin did not practice due to an injury today,” Matthews said. “But I think he and Marvin Brown are guys that haven’t played a lot, but we think they’re going to be good players. That was the position going into spring training we were concerned with, and we still are.”

Matthews also said that, as of now, Franklin Martin is No. 1 at right tackle and he does not know where his depth chart stands at cornerback.

In addition to filling those spots, the coaches are alternating new players at different positions.

At tailback, Matthews said rising junior and junior college transfer Eugene Halloman was most impressive.

“Eugene’s improvement at tailback is significant,” Matthews said. “He’s the guy that’s really emerged and probably is the third guy. He’s just doing a lot of good things.”

Wide receiver also remains somewhat of a question mark for the Dukes. Rising sophomore Raymond Brown looks promising, but rising sophomore Dexter Manley will also be competing for the spot.

“Raymond Brown has made big strides,” Matthews said. “We have those three returning guys, but it would be difficult right now to play a game without him.”

Brown said, “I can’t say that I can be pushed in right now because we have three other veterans who have been in the system for three years and have contributed to this organization already. All I can do is hope that when I get in there I can do my job and just help contribute to the rest of the team.”

The positions of punter and deep snapper are also toss-ups.

“We certainly have some question marks in our kicking game still,” Matthews said.

Other changes include rising sophomores Scotty McGee moving to secondary from tailback, Trae Kenney moving to defensive end from linebacker and Dorian Brooks moving to the offensive line from the defensive line.

“Overall, spring practice was really good,” Rascati said. “The young guys got some quality reps. We’ve got guys who can really make plays.”

JMU opens the 2006 season Sept. 2 when it hosts Bloomsburg University at Bridgeforth Stadium.