If one-win Oregon State is to pull off a Week 6 upset, they may have to do so without their bell cow in the running game.
In last Saturday’s blowout loss to Washington State, Ryan Nall went down with what was later diagnosed as a sprained ankle. With a road trip to 14th-ranked USC on the horizon, Nail was a non-participant in the last practice prior to leaving for the Coliseum.
When asked about the running back’s availability for Saturday afternoon’s game, Gary Andersen was noncommittal.
“We’ll see on Ryan,” the head coach said according to The Oregonian. “If he’s ready to go, he’ll go. That’s one thing that we can all guarantee. If he has an opportunity to play, trust me, he wants to play in every game he can.”
Nall is easily the Beavers’ leading rusher, rushing for 341 yards through five games. His 5.5 yards per carry leads the team as well, while his four rushing touchdowns account for half of OSU’s scores on the ground.
Artavis Pierce is second on the team with 137 yards; no other back on the team has more than 80 yards.