By JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

AUBURN, Ala.(AP) -- Auburn safety Zac Etheridge feels blessed to
be able to walk after a serious neck injury and expects to play
football again.

With his neck immobilized by a brace, Etheridge spoke to
reporters and teammates Tuesday, three days after sustaining an
injury in the Mississippi game that landed him in the hospital
for two nights.

He said his fifth vertebra was cracked and he tore ligaments in
his neck in a headfirst collision with teammate Antonio Coleman.

Etheridge said he wants to play again and doctors told him he
should be able to. He has to wear the brace, a harness-like
device with a support under his chin and running up the back of
his neck, for three to four months.

The junior said he probably will not attend Saturday's game
against Furman, but "I will definitely be at the Iron Bowl"
against rival Alabama on Nov. 27.

He was taken by ambulance to a Birmingham hospital Saturday
night and was released on Monday. Etheridge and Coleman crashed
into each other while trying to tackle Ole Miss running back
Rodney Scott.

Etheridge praised Scott for remaining still underneath him on
the ground. He planned to talk to him later in the day, and had
already spoken to Rebels coach Houston Nutt.

"When it first happened, I was paralyzed for a little bit,"
Etheridge said. "Just laying on that ground, it felt weird not
being able to control your body. I've got to take my hat off to
Rodney Scott. It was a blessing that he didn't move.

"If he would have moved anywhere, I wouldn't be here today. I'd
still be laying in the hospital bed."

Lying on the ground, temporarily unable to do more than wiggle
his toes, Etheridge said he could only offer a brief prayer.

"I was in shock, just not being able to move. There was a lot
going through my mind," he said. "The only thing I could say was
'Jesus, Jesus,' just calling out his name."

He said one of the first questions he asked doctors was, "Will I
be able to play again?" Etheridge gingerly walked up and down
the stairs at the football complex Tuesday, but he wasn't
complaining about the brace.

"It's tough to sleep," he said. "It's something I'll have to
deal with just to get a chance to try to continue my career.

"I would love to be able to step out on the field and continue
to play the game but right now I've just got to take it one day
at a time."

Auburn coach Gene Chizik said junior college transfer Demond
Washington would move from cornerback to strong safety to
replace Etheridge. The secondary has also been without injured
starters Mike McNeil and Aairon Savage all season.

Chizik was pleased to see Etheridge's progress.

"We're pumped for him," he said. "He's in really good spirits
right now. His teammates have had a chance to see him. He's a
great young man and he'll rebound well from this. We're just
glad he's made a lot of strides since Saturday."

Linebacker Josh Bynes said the team will miss Etheridge's
leadership and communication on the field.

"These past couple of weeks, he's been going to coach Chizik
one-on-one asking, 'How do I get myself better? What can I do
for this defense to make us better?"' Bynes said. "Those are
things we didn't know until coach Chizik told us in a meeting
Sunday.

"That's the type of guy we have back there, a leader, a guy
who's going to do anything for this team and for the defense."

Asked why he chose to speak publicly about his injury instead of
resting at home, Etheridge said it was his way of responding to
the prayers, text messages and e-mails he received from fans.

"I just want to let the world know that I'm fine," he said. "I
just want to thank everybody for their prayers. That helped my
family out going through this situation, especially me knowing
how much I love this game and love this university.

"I've got to give a heads-up to the fans and everyone that's
been praying, because it's been a miracle. I'm just blessed to
be able to walk again."