Illinois freshman running back Reggie Corbin will miss the season after suffering a shoulder injury.
Sport information director Kent Brown said Wednesday that Corbin dislocated a shoulder in practice Tuesday and coach Tim Beckman has indicated it could require surgery. Brown wasn't sure which shoulder Corbin injured.
Corbin was among the running backs competing for playing time behind starter Josh Ferguson. Junior college transfer Henry Enyenihi appears to have the edge in the competition for the No. 2 spot.
Corbin is a 5-10, 185-pound recruit from Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
He becomes the second running back lost for the season for Illinois. Freshman Dre Brown tore an anterior cruciate ligament during spring practice.
>>Nebraska Star WR Out 6-8 Weeks
The injury bug has already bitten Nebraska in Mike Riley's inaugural season -- and in a big way.
Riley announced Wednesday that sophomore receiver and punt returner De'Mornay Pierson-El has suffered a foot injury that will keep him out six-to-eight weeks. Pierson-El injured the foot during practice Tuesday.
A CBS Sports 2015 Preseason All-American at punt returner, Pierson-El has been widely projected as one of the Huskers' biggest offensive weapons entering 2015, having finished third on the team in receiving as a freshman and leading the country with 596 punt return yards. His three punt returns for scores tied for the FBS lead.
Riley has said Pierson-El would see an increased role with the offense this season, with the elusive Alexandria, Va., product seemingly tailor-made for the fly sweep Riley used to great effect with his wide receivers at Oregon State.
A six-week recovery period would see Pierson-El miss the Huskers' first four games of the season, which include their season opener vs. BYU and a Sept. 19 visit to Miami. Pierson-El could, however, target the team's Big Ten opener vs. Illinois on Oct. 3 for a return.
Riley also announced that three-star freshman receiver Lavan Alston will miss the 2015 season with an injury.
>>Ohio State QBs Don't Want Rotation
Ohio State has the most intriguing quarterback competition in the country, and according to Urban Meyer it also one of the most "unique" battles he has ever seen.
According to Meyer, both J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones are pushing each other for the starting job in a positive way. The result that all three -- Meyer, Barrett and Jones -- are hoping for is the best possible outcome for Ohio State in 2015.
"We understand that we want what's best for the team," Jones said this week, via the Columbus Dispatch. "Coach Meyer is going to put the best 11 guys on the field who he believes gives the team the best chance of winning. Me and J.T. both have that mindset, whether it's me or him."
What's best for the team, according to Jones and Barrett, will be for one player to be the starting quarterback, rather than a series-by-series rotation. Since Urban Meyer used both Chris Leak and Tim Tebow during Florida's 2006 national title run, it has been suggested that he might do the same this season at Ohio State.
That is still a possibility, though it is not the preference for either player. Barrett, who had to rotate series-by-series in high school, said it wouldn't be ideal because the two "wouldn't have the same rhythm or efficiency." Jones doesn't think it would "be a great idea," but will be willing to adjust if Meyer wants to use both quarterbacks.
While a series-by-series rotation would make it difficult on Barrett and Jones to establish a rhythm, don't rule out the possibility of some specialized packages for whoever ends up being the second-string guy. There is too much talent at that position to leave players on the sideline, and Meyer has always been willing to get creative with his offensive sets.
As for naming the starter, Meyer told reporters not to expect any news before the Buckeyes run out of the tunnel on Monday, Sept. 7 in Blacksburg to play Virginia Tech.
