BATON ROUGE &045; It may difficult to say which pain is greater &045; Michael Williams’s pain of not playing Saturday against Alcorn or Southern University’s defense having to go on without him.

And there’s Williams sore ankle that can’t be overlooked, either.

When the Jaguars host Alcorn at 3 p.m. Saturday at Mumford Stadium, former Natchez High standout Williams will not suit up as the result of a high ankle sprain suffered two weeks ago against Alabama A&M.; It may have him out after Saturday, but that may not be as important as this one.

&8220;Even though I tried to practice on it to see how far I can go, I might be out a week or two,&8221; Williams said. &8220;The only thing about that is after Alcorn we have an open date. That might give me a chance to come back and play. This is a game I was really looking forward to coming into the season. It was like my homecoming, you know?&8221;

It would have been a personal for a number of reasons, although the former Bulldog doesn’t hold any resentment toward Alcorn for not offering the full ride Southern put on the table after high school.

Williams will miss a chance to play in the same game as high school friend Bryan Woods, now an Alcorn defensive end, or match up with acquaintance and Alcorn receiver Charlie Spiller.

&8220;I met Alcorn’s defensive backs coach,&8221; Williams said. &8220;(Southern) actually came to my school, and they came during the summer before my senior year. They just kept in touch. I had kind of went to a couple of Alcorn games, but I took wherever the full scholarship was coming from. The (Southern Miss) defensive backs coach wanted me to come, but a coaching change messed up the whole process.&8221;

Now playing cornerback after spending most of his high school career at safety, Williams took to the position well at the start of the season for the Jaguars. His first three games netted double-digit totals in tackles, and against Prairie View he came up with an interception.

His biggest came came the next week against Mississippi Valley in his first start when he posted 12 tackles and two pass breakups. His efforts earned SWAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

&8220;Mike is doing an outstanding job for us,&8221; Southern head coach Pete Richardson said. &8220;He’s got an ankle sprain, and hopefully he’ll be able to play this game. He’s very conscientious and studies the game. You can see he’s getting better. He likes to compete, and he’s a fine student-athlete.&8221;

The adjustment period, he acknowledged, wasn’t all that difficult at the start of the season. Williams spent his senior season at Natchez playing cornerback, and he red-shirted last season while getting used to the system and the position.

Once the season started, the 5-11 speedster had little growing pains to endure. He was the team’s leading tackler up until the injury, and he still ranks among the tackles leaders in the SWAC.

&8220;At the beginning of the season, it was like it wasn’t new because of my red-shirt year,&8221; Williams said. &8220;It’s one of the toughest positions on the field in college. I adjusted to the game so much. I was like I had played before. Against A&M, I thought I could toughen up and have a good game. I didn’t get many chances to make plays because they weren’t coming my way.&8221;

While he hasn’t experienced them much personally, the Jaguars have gone through their share of growing pains this season with a 2-3 record. Starting a sophomore at quarterback, Southern had struggled at times putting an entire game together until last week’s 20-14 win over Jackson State.

Quarterback Joseph Lewis threw for 231 yards and against the Tigers, and he’s caught fire of late &045;&160;just as Alcorn’s true freshman starter at quarterback, Tony Hobson.

&8220;It’s tough,&8221; Richardson said. &8220;The thing you have to know is it’s a learning process. When you get the opportunity to play, it’s a matter of making completions and developing chemistry with the wide receivers. After that, it’s a matter of getting experience on the field. It’s a learning process in most college systems.&8221;

Injuries on both sides of the ball have hampered the Jaguars’ season so far, and that’s not including Williams. Other spots are just young, and the Jaguars have taken their lumps this season &045;&160;including a 45-35 loss to Alabama State.

&8220;We’re kind of beat us,&8221; Williams said. &8220;It’s just a situation where you’ve got to play a good game. We had to just step it up.&8221;