Demetre Baker Reinstated for Florida Atlantic Game; Left Tackle Ucambre Williams Lost for Season
South Alabama running back Demetre Baker's suspension has been lifted ahead of Saturday's game against Florida Atlantic, while left tackle Ucambre Williams is out for the season with a torn ACL.
MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama running back Demetre Baker had his suspension lifted Thursday and will be available when the Jaguars play Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
Head coach Joey Jones suspended Baker, the team’s leading rusher, for last week’s game at Arkansas State after a violation of team rules. Earlier this week, when asked on his radio show whether Baker would be allowed to play against FAU, Jones said “the ball is in his court.”
Rushing Without Baker
Baker leads South Alabama with 294 rushing yards this season, averaging 4.4 yards per carry with one touchdown.
Quarterback C.J. Bennett, second on the team with 134 rushing yards, did not play at Arkansas State. Kendall Houston started in Baker’s place in Jonesboro and carried 18 times for 36 yards, raising his season total to 130 yards, four behind Bennett. Redshirt freshman Terrance Timmons led the Jaguars in rushing in that game with 43 yards.
Williams Out With Torn ACL
South Alabama also received MRI results on starting left tackle Ucambre Williams, which showed a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Williams will miss the rest of the season.
With Williams out and offensive lineman Shaun Artz dealing with a back injury, transfer offensive lineman James Elliot could see playing time against Florida Atlantic. The NCAA granted Elliot a hardship waiver, allowing him to play this season without sitting out the year normally required of transfers.
South Alabama is playing its first season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
