Tennessee Loses 2Nd Running Back

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Freshman running back Brian Darden is no longer a member of the Tennessee football team, Coach Phillip Fulmer confirmed.

Darden did not show up for practice yesterday and Fulmer said he also has missed some classes and weight workouts.

"As far as I'm concerned, he is off the football team," Fulmer said.

Darden was recruited by Tennessee in 1995 but did not qualify academically. He sat out a year and enrolled in school in January. The Vicksburg, Miss., native carried seven times for 7 yards in Tennessee's first two games.

He is the second running back the Vols, ranked No. 2 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll, have lost in the past week. Sophomore Shawn Bryson contracted mononucleosis and is out indefinitely.

Note

-- Oregon redshirt freshman Justin Wilcox will be sidelined six to eight weeks with a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered near the end of the Ducks' 44-30 victory over Nevada.

Wilcox was moved from quarterback to free safety just a week before the season opener, an overtime win at Fresno State on Aug 31. He started Saturday's game as a fifth defensive back and had three unassisted tackles among his six total stops.