Following Thursday’s practice, Coach Rich Brooks confirmed that cornerback Trevard Lindley will start against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, but tailback Derrick Locke will not play against EKU.
Lindley has missed four games since incurring a high-ankle sprain against Alabama on Oct. 3. In the first four games of the season, he totaled 13 tackles, one interception and four pass breakups.
Locke has a pair of knee injuries, torn scar tissue in one knee and a sprained medial collateral ligament in the other knee. He is the team’s leading rusher with 597 yards and four touchdowns. He’s caught 18 passes for 135 yards. He also leads the Southeastern Conference in kickoff returns with a 31.2-yard average.
Senior Alfonso Smith (167 yards, one TD this season) is expected to get the starting call at tailback, with Moncell Allen (118 yards, one TD), CoShik Williams (52 yards) and Donald Russell (45 yards) also available.
Brooks reported that most of the players who have been ill this week hope to be available, with the possible exceptions of reserve linebacker Ridge Wilson and backup long snapper Jon Thomas.
