JONESBORO -- Arkansas State's most experienced player stood near the 50-yard line Wednesday, watching instead of participating in team drills during an afternoon practice.
Colton Jackson, a fifth-year senior who has started at three spots on the offensive line, hasn't returned to practice since suffering a concussion, but he's as close as he has been in two weeks -- and he expects to be on the field Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe.
Up next
ARKANSAS STATE VS. LOUISIANA-MONROE
WHEN 6 p.m. Saturday
WHERE Centennial Bank Stadium, Jonesboro
RECORDS Arkansas State 2-4, 2-0 Sun Belt; Louisiana-Monroe 2-5, 1-2
SERIES ASU leads 23-14
RADIO KASR-FM, 92.7, in Little Rock/Conway; KFIN-FM, 107.9, in Jonesboro
INTERNET ESPN3.com
"I'll be active Saturday, and we'll see how things go," said Jackson, wearing a red noncontact jersey while his teammates went through a normal Wednesday workout.
Jackson didn't like sitting out of ASU's last game, a 17-7 victory over South Alabama on Oct. 15. He didn't get upset that his string of 44 consecutive starts was snapped -- he didin't realize it was that long, he said -- but he missed competing beside his teammates.
He doesn't remember much about how the concussion occurred.
"That's the million dollar question," he said.
He hasn't been around the team much since, watching from the sideline in a T-shirt and jeans during the South Alabama game. It was the first time he's done so since he was a redshirt freshman in 2012.
"It was actually very weird," he said. "I forgot what it was like. You just try to keep your guys up and give them words of encouragement, and tidbits here and there."
The worst part was being away from his team, and even the ASU campus while awaiting symptoms to subside. Jackson said doctors told him to stay at home rather than go to class or meetings. Electronics were off limits.
"I felt like I was stuck in a padded room," he said. "It was literally sitting in a dark room 24/7."
In Jackson's place, true freshman Troy Elliott gained valuable experience.
Coach Blake Anderson and offensive line coach Allen Rudolph said Elliott played well in his first start, and now the Red Wolves have another lineman with whom they can trust with playing time.
"Going into the game, I was asked 'Are you nervous?' " Rudolph said about inserting Elliott into the lineup. "I was really not. It would have been a total shock to me if he had gone out there and not played well. I just really felt like the guy was going to go out and perform well."
Elliott played every snap at left guard to become ASU's first true freshman to start on the offensive line since Bryce Giddens in 2012. The Red Wolves rushed for 204 yards against South Alabama.
What does Rudolph like the best about the freshman from Flower Mound, Texas?
"He has an ability to block people," Rudolph said. "Some guys do, and some guys don't. His footwork may not be exactly right, his hand placement might not be right, but he has some physical things about him that just allows him to block people.
"Not everything is perfect right now, but he's getting the job done."
Elliott wasn't surprised he played two weeks ago, but there was a point in August when he thought he was headed for a redshirt because of a bruised kneecap.
"But, when people get hurt, I get to rotate, and whenever people went down, I stepped up," he said. "So I guess that's why my name was called."
He'll likely start Saturday on the sideline, as Jackson reclaims his spot on the line, but Elliott said he's ready to go if needed.
While Rudolph welcomes Jackson's' experience and versatility, he said he'd like to find some snaps for the new kid.
"When Colton is back and ready to go, that doesn't shut Troy down," he said. "We're going to use him."
Sports on 10/27/2016