RB woes: Francis departure, Quizz question

JEREMY FRANCIS has left Corvallis for Florida to take care of his ailing mother according to reports. With OSU head man Mike Riley issuing his strongest remarks yet on whether Jacquizz Rodgers will be available for the Sun Bowl, with things trending towards the pessimistic side there, the Beavers suddenly could have only one of their top three running backs -- Ryan McCants -- for the Sun Bowl.

It's 15 days before the Sun Bowl but that might not be enough time for the ailing shoulder of Jacquizz Rodgers to heal up fully enough.

"I have some real doubts about playing him," Riley is quoted in the Oregonian on Quizz.

The freshman running back strained his shoulder in the penultimate game of the season and missed the Civil War. Riley's reticence comes from not wanting his star running back to re-injure it and potentially put more rehab time on the plate during the offseason.

The Beavs' No. 3 running back, Jeremy Francis, emerged late in the season, especially as a viable receiving threat coming out of the backfield but Oregon State will be without his services in El Paso.

"He was a good teammate, he worked hard, and everyone is going to miss him," said Riley of Francis, a junior.

Ryan McCants was the Beavs' third leading rusher this season, with 79 carries for 314 yards, behind Quizz (1,253 yards) and his brother James Rodgers (46 carries, 408 yards), the latter who has already been ruled out for the Sun because of a broken collarbone.