Ball State was not only blown out Saturday by intrastate rivalPurdue, but the Cardinals starting tailback blew out his knee.
Larry Bostic, who ran for a career-high 76 yards in the 59-7defeat, injured his right knee on his 19th carry, a 2-yard loss.The junior will have surgery later this week, but the unspecifiedligament damage will keep him out for the season.
"We'll know more this week," head coach Brady Hoke said. "Iwon't know (the exact damage) until they do an MRI."
Since Bostic was not redshirted as a freshman, Hoke said theschool will apply to the NCAA for back to receive a medicalredshirt. If he is granted that, Bostic will have two years ofeligibility.
With Bostic out, senior Scott Blair is slated to startSaturday's game at Missouri, with true freshman Adell Givensbacking up. Blair, the team's most experienced back, has fivecarries for 14 yards in two games. Givens has rushed for 60 yardson 15 attempts.
Bostic's injury occurred when he planted his leg, attempting tomake a cutback. He was aided off the field and went to the lockerroom on crutches.
A running back in high school, Bostic played receiver his firsttwo years at BSU, catching 61 passes for 677 yards. Coaches movedhim to tailback in the spring, hoping to provide a spark to theCards' languishing ground game. He ran for 38 yards in the seasonopener against Boston College.
While Blair, the leading rusher in 2003 with 604 yards, isexcited about having more playing time, this certainly isn't theideal circumstance.
"I have to take advantage of my opportunity," he said, "but Ihate that's it at a teammate's expense.
"Me and Larry got closer; when he moved to tailback I got toknow him a lot personally. I know one thing about Larry: He'll workhard and he'll do his best to get ready (for next season)."
Junior Charles Wynn, Blair's backup last season and a backupfullback this year, may also get some carries, Hoke said.
Ball State rushed for 71 yards at Purdue, a figure stunted bythe Boilermakers' five sacks.
"I feel comfortable with Scott, Adell and Charles Wynn andBrenton Martin in there," he said. "We did a better job at thepoint of attack (at Purdue) and I thought our backs did a good job.We're seeing the field better, and that's a fast defense you'replaying against."
In addition to Bostic's injury, Ball State will also be withoutbackup quarterback Casey Gillen for at least three weeks. Theredshirt freshman separated his right shoulder on the same drive inthe fourth.
True freshman Cole Stinson, whom the Cards had planned (andstill may be able) to redshirt, has been elevated to No. 2quarterback behind sophomore Joey Lynch.
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