On the same day George O’Leary tentatively named a starting quarterback -- Rob Calabrese, if you’re interested -- the Central Florida head coach also revealed that a running back who could help whatever player is under center could miss the early portion of the 2010 season.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Brynn Harvey -- UCF’s leading rusher in 2009 -- will likely miss at least the non-conference portion of the school’s regular-season schedule.
Harvey suffered a knee injury late last month, and was ruled out of the remainder of spring practice but would reportedly be ready for the start of summer camp. Late last week, O’Leary hinted -- we think -- that he could miss the opener.
Now, apparently, the damage to the knee is more extensive than originally thought.
“I don’t think [Brynn Harvey will] be back until after the nonconference schedule, I would think,” O’Leary said following Saturday’s spring game. “Hopefully sooner, but my experience is you don’t count on that. But I think both of them [Brendan Kelly and Jonathan Davis] are good enough to get into the game and get the necessary yards for us to be successful.”
Missing the entire non-conference schedule would sideline Harvey for the first four games of the season -- including match-ups against BcS schools North Carolina State and Kansas State. Last year, Harvey’s 1,109 yards and 14 touchdowns led the Knights.