Big bodies could be sidelined

HARRISONBURG – Some of the biggest bodies in preseason camp won’t be in pads today when James Madison opens football practice.

Two transfer offensive linemen – A.J. Scott (Marshall) and Austin Lane (Syracuse) – have not be cleared yet to play academically, though JMU coach Mickey Matthews is optimistic both will be soon.

Senior defensive tackle Lamar Middleton’s status is also up in the air. The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Middleton had been deemed academically ineligible, Matthews said, two weeks ago. But now the coach said Middleton could be on the cusp of “addressing his academic situation” and being reinstated, possibly by today’s workout.

Middleton – who transferred from Syracuse before the 2009 season – played in 10 games last year, starting eight. He finished with 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Scott’s defection from Marshall was an ordeal, with Thundering Herd coach Doc Holliday refusing to release the 6-foot-5, 272-pound Scott – a former R.E. Lee High School standout who was in line to start at Marshall – from his letter of intent. Scott won an NCAA appeal but still had some academic issues to clear up before he could be cleared to practice at JMU.

The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Lane – a Clifton Park, N.Y. native – spurned scholarship offers from Villanova, New Hampshire and Massachusetts to walk-on at Syracuse, where he redshirted last year.

Both players have four years of eligibility remaining.

They’re arrival could help offset the loss of Scott Jones, who is expected to be out until midseason as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.

Freshman year over: Former R.E. Lee High School star defensive back Terrell Mickens will redshirt his freshman year at JMU after undergoing offseason knee surgery, Matthews said Sunday.