Because of the ongoing NCAA investigation into the football program, Ryan Houston missed North Carolina’s first five games of the season. Even as the running back was cleared Oct. 14, he did not play in the Tar Heels’ win this past weekend.
And, it appears, there’s a pretty decent chance he won’t play the remainder of the season, either.
Houston is a senior, but has yet to use his redshirt season. Head coach Butch Davis stated that using Houston’s redshirt this year, which would allow for a return in 2011, is a very real possibility, but will be determined based on the needs of the team.
“The resolution is if we need him to win games, we’re going to play him,” Davis said. “In the ideal situation we would like not to.”
Three players who have been suspended for the season as a result of the NCAA probe, including senior cornerback Charles Brown, will be using their redshirts this year, so the strategy involving Houston is most certainly not out of the realm of possibility.
In 2009, Houston led the Tar Heels with 713 yards rushing and nine touchdowns.