RB Duel at Sun Bowl Not to Be; Jacquizz Rodgers Likely Sidelined vs. Pitt

When Oregon State (8-4, 7-2 Pac-10) and Pittsburgh (9-3, 5-2 Big East) accepted bids to play in the 75th Brut Sun Bowl, the game looked to be one of the best matchups of young running backs bowl organizers could have hoped for.

Pittsburgh sophomore LeSean McCoy has rushed for 1,403 yards and 21 touchdowns this season-- he currently is the 10th leading rusher in the nation. The back they simply call "Shady" is rewriting the record books at Pittsburgh, as he's broken some of former WR Larry Fitzgerald's records already. 

Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 1253 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season before being sidelined with a shoulder injury. The freshman from Richmond, Texas was the 10th leading rusher in the nation before the injury; he's now slid to 13th. 

It would be a sight to see McCoy (5'11", 210) and Rodgers (5'7", 193) on the same field together, but Oregon State head coach Mike Riley is highly doubtful that Jacquizz will play in the game.

Jacquizz's older brother, James, is already out for the game with a broken collarbone he suffered in the Civil War game against Oregon last month.

On top of this, the Oregon State athletic department announced earlier this week that 3rd string running back Jeremy Francis had left town to tend to his ailing mother in Florida. However, the team is now reporting that Francis will join the team December 26 in El Paso, just early enough for him to play in the game.

That news brings much needed relief to Oregon State, who would have been left with only freshman Ryan McCants at running back if both Jacquizz and Francis couldn't play.

In what could have been a matchup between two prolific runners, the Sun Bowl looks like it could easily become a matchup between the experienced LeSean McCoy and Ryan McCants, who's served as Jacquizz Rodgers' backup for much of the season.

And if something happens to McCants or Francis between now and December 31, Oregon State only has one other back on the active roster—a redshirt freshman. There are two other backs who are redshirting this year, however, and their redshirts could be lifted if absolutely necessary. 

When asked about depth at running back, all Riley had to say was "I'd say we are thin.''

The Sun Bowl will be played December 31 in El Paso, Texas at 2:15 EST on CBS. 

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