The one player you had to feel for after last weekend’s postponed game between Memphis and Arkansas State was running back T.J. Pitts.

A heralded recruit out of Gainesville, Ga., two years ago, Pitts, a redshirt sophomore, was scheduled to make his first start of the season against ASU in the place of injured starter Joseph Doss. But the heavy rains and lightning combined to ground Pitts for another week.

Pitts was anxious to atone for a lackluster performance last year against Tennessee, a game in which he was a last-minute starter for Doss, who was benched for showing up late to a team meeting.

Pitts closed the 2006 season with a solid performance at UTEP and had a strong effort off the bench in the opener against Ole Miss.

He’ll get another chance against Jacksonville State, the U of M’s 1-AA opponent Saturday night at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Pitts is a physical, punishing running back who rushed for 2,422 yards and 29 touchdowns as a high school senior. He’ll have the ability to soften up defenses for the more elusive, breakaway style of ex-Millington High star Miguel Barnes, who’ll back up Pitts.

Doss, a senior, won’t play Saturday. He’s expected to return for the team’s Conference USA opener Sept. 22 at Central Florida.