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State RB Eugene out for Thursday's season opener, OL Crouch will not travel with team

By Ryan Craig

Aug 26, 2008

The injury bug has bitten N.C. State once again, and suddenly a position that once seemed to have almost too much depth, is getting increasingly thin.

Jamelle Eugene, the projected starter for N.C. State at running back, will miss the team's season opener Thursday night against South Carolina with an ankle injury, head coach Tom O'Brien announced after the team's practice Tuesday. Andre Brown, a senior from Greenville, N.C., will take his place behind the quarterback for the game's first snap.

N.C. State's coaching staff said that Eugene had not participated in recent team scrimmages or practices, but had hoped he would be ready for the start of the year.

The red-shirt junior was the Pack's leading rusher last year, gaining 667 yards on 172 carries to go along with five touchdowns. He had also proven himself to be a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield, as he caught 42 balls on his way to becoming State's second-leading receiver.

Brown, who became the starter last year when then-starter Toney Baker went down with a knee injury, rushed for 447 yards in 2007 before suffering an injury himself.

Brown saw limited action last season due to a foot injury he suffered in the latter part of the season. He also re-injured the same foot during 2008 spring drills.

Brown gained 33 yards on 11 attempts in State’s final preseason scrimmage.

Eugene did not compete in the last preseason scrimmage. O’Brien said he “thought [Eugene] would be here this week” but now has “no idea” when the running back will return.

Baker will also not be available for State, as he is recovering from his most recent knee surgery. Sophomore Curtis Underwood will likely back up Brown Thursday night.

Curtis Crouch, a starter for eight games last season at right guard and pegged as the back-up at the same position going into this season, will not accompany the team on its trip to Columbia. O'Brien said that Crouch did not have an injury.

“Crouch is out,” O’Brien said. “He will not travel, and that is my decision.”

Javon Walker, a redshirt sophomore who started four games at strong safety before suffering a season-ending knee injury, was expected to be a contender for the starting spot, but re-injured his knee and will miss the entirety of the 2008 season.

Several true freshmen will get a chance to fill some of the holes opened up by these injuries. O’Brien said that five _ T.J. Graham, Taylor Gentry, Dominique Ellis, R.J. Mattes and Sterling Lucas _ are expected to see significant playing time against USC.

Graham will return punts with Eugene out. But O’Brien didn’t rule out using other players, including Geron James and even starting quarterback Russell Wilson.

Though the Pack has been plagued with injuries throughout O’Brien’s tenure, the coach said he would “absolutely” use the starting quarterback to return punts.

Despite all the recent blows to the depth chart, O’Brien said he was confident with State’s ability to perform Thursday.

“It is important for the program that we play hard and play smart,” he said. “You only get so many opportunities to do this. That’s one good thing about being able to play on a Thursday night – especially this Thursday night because it’s the first one.”

Correspondents Emily Seck and Ty Johnson contributed to this report.