University of Tennessee at Chattanooga head coach Russ Huesman said Monday that running back Derrick Craine’s status is unclear heading into this week’s game against Virginia Military Institute.
Craine was helped off the field with an ankle injury on the third drive of the third quarter of Saturday’s game against The Citadel and did not return. He was seen postgame on crutches with his ankle wrapped with ice.
The 5-foot-10, 205-pound senior has rushed for 715 yards and nine touchdowns for the 6-1 Mocs, who fell to 11th in the Football Championship Subdivision STATS (media) poll after the 22-14 loss to the now fifth-ranked Bulldogs. He has been the primary back this season, with his rush total accounting for 49.7 percent of the Mocs’ rushing yards as a team.
A season ago, his 1,251 yards were 39.8 percent of the team’s rushing total, which was aided by quarterback Jacob Huesman, who rushed for 1,244 yards.
Despite the injury limiting him to 35 yards on eight carries, Craine still averages 102.1 yards rushing per game, second in the Southern Conference to Wofford’s Lorenzo Long and 17th in the country.
Should he have to sit, junior Richardre Bagley – who is second on the team with 195 yards on the ground – will be Craine’s primary replacement. Bagley has seen his production increase after a few good weeks of practice, as 96 of his yards have come in the last three games, including a 1-yard touchdown run against East Tennessee State on Oct. 1.
Huesman said the team will also need promising sophomore Alex Trotter to step up. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound McCallie product has 22 yards on five carries in three games, with a shoulder injury slowing him in the preseason. He had 14 of those yards on Oct. 1 at East Tennessee State, but had a fumble while going in for a touchdown that the Bucs recovered.
Leslie earns SoCon nod
Linebacker Nakevion Leslie was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week, following his 19-tackle effort against the Bulldogs on Saturday.
The 5-foot-11, 225-pound senior’s effort was the most tackles in a game since former Moc Ryan Consiglio also had 19 against Wofford on Nov. 19, 2011.
It’s Leslie’s second honor of the season. He was also given the award after a 15-tackle effort against Furman on Sept. 17.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.