BERKELEY, Calif. — California starting fullback Will Ta’ufo’ou will miss three to six weeks after spraining a ligament in his left knee during a scrimmage.
Coach Jeff Tedford said Saturday that Ta’ufo’ou is expected to miss the 12th-ranked Bears season-opener against No. 15 Tennessee.
Ta’ufo’ou, a junior, played in all 13 games last season.
Ta’ufo’ou was injured during Thursday’s scrimmage when he was hit on the outside of his knee in a solid tackle by safety Bernard Hicks. Ta’ufo’ou walked off the field under his own power and was in a knee brace by the end of the scrimmage.
He has been impressive since the Holiday Bowl, in which he got his first start for Byron Storer, who broke his arm. Ta’ufo’ou is a bowling-ball-like blocker and has proved to be a receiving threat as well.
Tedford said sophomore Brian Holley and junior Zach Smith, a transfer from Duke, are next in line.
“Holley has some experience in the offense and knows what we’re doing, and, being an older guy, Zach has done a nice job of picking it up,” Tedford said. “They are both physical guys and can handle that job.”
Who’s No. 2? Tedford said he will probably announce the No. 2 quarterback, a competition between sophomore Kyle Reed and redshirt freshman Kevin Riley, by the middle of next week.
In Thursday’s scrimmage, Reed completed 7 of 12 passes for 55 yards, and Riley was 4-for-13 for 47 yards and a 23-yard touchdown to receiver Sean Young. Tedford said the duo is essentially neck and neck.
Tailback Stable: Starting tailback Justin Forsett ran four times for 24 yards in Thursday’s scrimmage, including a nifty 13-yard touchdown scamper, redshirt freshmen James Montgomery and Tracy Slocum combined for 88 yards on 12 carries and true freshmen Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen proved they are ready to play right away.
Lining Up: The defensive line, which lost three starters, is starting to take shape. Sophomore defensive end Tad Smith has been impossible to miss the last week of practice, and senior Rulon Davis consistently pestered quarterbacks during the scrimmage.
“The one guy we really wanted to see do some things was Rulon Davis, and he did some good things,” Gregory said. “Without seeing film yet, he is really the guy who jumped out at me.”
Gregory said Smith, Davis and Cody Jones are in a competition for the starting end spots, and it could be decided as early as today. Either Mika Kane or Tyson Alualu will start inside with Matt Malele, according to Tedford.
Notebook: True freshman cornerback Chris Conte has pulled even with redshirt freshman Darian Hagan for the third corner spot. … Tedford said Hicks sustained a mild concussion, but not on one of his patented crushing hits. He was inadvertently kicked in the head as he went to make a tackle. ... Sophomore cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson was back at practice Friday after missing the scrimmage with a slight ankle tweak. He made a nice cut and break on a pass intended for DeSean Jackson. ... Redshirt freshman cornerback Charles Amadi continues to be hampered by a nagging ankle injury, according to Tedford.
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Comments » 8
jandjhome#228397 writes:
Be ready Orangemen,CAL is hiding in the weeds.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Hey, Forsett is a heistman candidate; he don't need no stinkin fullback.
agentorange writes:
three new starters on d-line? then run.
inquiry writes:
What's a Fullback??..we're from Tennessee and we haven't had one in 20 years.. we call ours now "H Back" cause none of our running backs can also block..
spikevol writes:
wtf are you talking about?
vol4jesus writes:
Inquiry you are posting in a way that I am seeing a pattern develop....none of it has anything guud to say about Tennessee so far. Crass lady vol joke on coach Summitt article and this. Mighty suspicious VOL posters. Who was your favorite qb Snake Stabler or Joe Willie Namath? Your answer will help us figure out your allegiance to a team. Mind you, you can be a VOL fan and be negative. I just keep waiting on those who are primarily negative to blow me away with something positive in their post about the VOLS. Watch out sale on 'Orange Tinted' glasses this week at a VOL store 'round gee somewheres. Oh btw , they have good depth at rb anyway. So know bear problems. Besides they are going to throw 10-15 times probably to Desean Jackson anyway testing our young secondary. So Coach Chavis and Slade workem hard.
invisiblekid writes:
Inquiry, Shawn Bryson helped UT win a national championship and has had an 8 year career in the NFL. Will Bartholomew helped pave the way for the Travis', Stephens and Henry, to post 2 of the top 5 single season rushing records in UT history. If you had said the last 5 years, I would have been inclined to agree, Fleming(even though he is in the NFL) and Anderson were two of the more frustrating players to watch in recent years. Kind of hard to be a fullback when you don't want to hit somebody.
invisiblekid writes:
BTW volforjesus, good to see the ever-vigilant negativity police is always on the beat.
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