UAB’s top rusher injures knee, may be out all season
The Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama-Birmingham coach Watson Brown is not bothering to mask his disappointment at the news that last year’s leading rusher, Carl Sanders, has been sidelined by a knee injury.
”This team dreadfully needs to taste something sweet at this point in the season,” Brown said Monday. ”But all they have had so far is a bitter taste in their mouths. This couldn’t come at a worse time, and at a more crucial position.”
Sanders will be out for at least four weeks and possibly the season because of a posterior cruciate ligament tear he suffered in Saturday’s 28-7 loss to Memphis, which dropped UAB to 0-2.
The Blazers play Saturday against the University of Arizona in their third straight difficult road game. In games against Kansas and Memphis, UAB – in just its second year in Division I-A – has been outscored, 52-7, and has not been competitive.
Last season, Sanders became the first Blazer to go over 1,000 yards rushing, going for 1,154. The transfer from Northeast Oklahoma Junior College started slowly this year, combining for 114 yards in the first two games.
On the Blazers’ final drive of the first half against Memphis, Sanders caught a screen pass and was injured as he was forced out of bounds.
”He tried to go the second half, but just couldn’t do it,” Brown said. ”I saw (the injury) on the film Sunday and knew it was bad. We’ve got to have another young player step up.”
UAB will likely call on sophomore Lucious Foster, a fullback who will switch to tailback. Foster ran for 40 yards against Memphis. At fullback, UAB likely will rotate redshirt freshman Jabari Robinson with true freshmen Percy Coleman and Kyle Rea.