Campbell out for JMU game, punt returner situation still undecided

Offensive line coach Tom Brattan confirmed yesterday that left tackle Bruce Campbell will miss the Terrapin football team's home opener on Saturday against James Madison.

Campbell suffered a turf toe injury in the Terps' season opener last Saturday at California, and the Terps provided conflicting reports about his status the past couple of days.
Coach Ralph Friedgen said on Tuesday he wouldn't comment on Campbell's status forSaturday until today, but then center Phil Costa told The Washington Post Tuesday afternoon that Campbell was not going to play.

Friedgen then told reporters yesterday morning Campbell's status was still uncertain, but Brattan cleared everything up in the evening.

"Right now he is definitely out for this week," Brattan said. "We'll wait and see what happens. It might be one week; it might be longer than that. It's not an injury I think that you can rush. It can be a lingering injury, and that's the issue."

Paul Pinegar will move from right tackle to start in Campbell's place, and redshirt freshman R.J. Dill will get his first career start at right tackle.

Pinegar said he came into the program as a left tackle, and he doesn't think the switch back to protecting quarterback Chris Turner's blind side will be much of an issue for him.

"You've just got to flip everything in your head," Pinegar said. "You've just got to think, ‘yeah, now I'm on the left.'"

The offensive line allowed six sacks against the Golden Bears, and James Madison's defensive line features two preseason Football Championship Subdivision All-Americans in Sam Daniels and Arthur Moats.

•  TATE COULD REMAIN AT PUNT RETURNER

Punt returner Tony Logan is still dealing with the shoulder injury he suffered during the preseason that kept him out of the Cal game, and Friedgen said Kenny Tate will be returning punts for the second straight game against James Madison if Logan is unable to go.

Friedgen said Logan missed practice Tuesday and was limited yesterday despite wearing a white jersey that made him eligible for full participation.

Friedgen acknowledged that using Tate is not necessarily a downgrade, as Tate returned three punts for 24 yards against the Golden Bears, including an 18-yard return that Tate almost broke for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Friedgen didn't make it clear if Logan would be the sure choice even if he was healthy, and Tate is excited about the opportunity either way.

Tate said he returned punts for four years at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, and he chuckled when he remembered being named to The Post's All-Met team as a kick returner rather than as a wide receiver or defensive back after his junior season in 2006.

"I like to have the ball in my hands," said Tate, normally a safety. "I want to get a three-and-out just so I can punt return. It's been a long time since I've had the ball in my hands and it's fun."

schimmel@umdbk.com