Oregon State Football: Michael Phillip and the 5 Biggest Injuries on 2011 Season

It has been a long season for the Oregon State Beavers thus far to say the least. After a disappointing 5-7 season in 2010, hopes were much higher for 2011.

The Beavers are a pitiful 0-3 (0-1 Pac-12) with the hardest part of their schedule still ahead of them. Losses to Sacramento State and UCLA will be nothing compared to the likes of Arizona State, Stanford, Washington and Oregon.

This team in all likelihood won’t make a splash in Pac-12 championship talks, but that shouldn’t doom the season. Injuries have plagued this team and their chances of making any kind of impact this year.

Here are the five major injuries that have plagued this team in 2011…

Malcolm Agnew: Hamstring 

Agnew was the one bright spot in the Beavers’ loss to Sacramento State, rushing for 233 yards and being their only form of offense. Agnew has had a nagging hamstring injury and hasn’t seen the field in the Beavers' last two games. Agnew is listed as probable to return against the Arizona State Sun Devils, and Oregon State could use him sooner rather than later.

Josh LaGrone: Knee 

LaGrone was in a battle with Anthony Watkins for a starting safety job, but that became irrelevant once word came out of his injury. LaGrone injured his knee this offseason, and it was reported early on that he would in fact be out for the Beavers' entire 2011 season.

Joshua Andrews: Knee 

Andrews was lost for a minimum of 4-5 weeks during the Beavers’ bye week, and the injury could turn out to have him out much longer than that. Andrews earned a starting guard spot this season, and his void on the line has been felt.

Michael Philipp: Knee 

Philipp was one of only two returning starters on the offensive line for the Beavers, and it has recently come out that he will be lost for the season after undergoing knee surgery. Philipp can take a medical redshirt and retain a year of eligibility.

Brandon Hardin: Shoulder 

Perhaps no injury across the country had more of an impact on a team in college football than the loss of Brandon Hardin for the Beavers. Oregon State's veteran corner, Hardin was prepared to enter his senior season as one of the top defensive backs in the entire Pac-12. A shoulder injury in the offseason has put Hardin out indefinitely, and there’s no news on when to expect a return (if he does).

Note: James Rodgers' injury occurred in 2010 and he has seen playing time for the Beavers, therefore he is not on the list of currently injured players.