Suspension of Ducks’ Blount not a big deal
You can breathe easy Oregon Ducks fans and futures bettors on WagerWeb.com: Ducks star running back LeGarrette Blount is academically eligible and will be a member of the team this fall despite currently serving an indefinite suspension.
Blount, who rushed for 1,002 yards (on just 137 carries) and 17 touchdowns last year and paired with Jeremiah Johnson to form the school’s second-ever 1,000-yard rushing tandem, was suspended last week indefinitely, and rumors were flying that it was academic-related, which could have jeopardized his standing this fall.
But Blount said this week that the move related to his attendance at strength and conditioning workouts.
“School is not it,” Blount said. “I am academically eligible. They were just thinking I was not going and not participating in team activities, when that wasn’t the reasoning. They don’t know how I feel. They don’t know if I’m hurting or not. But they’re just doing what they think is the best thing to do in that situation they’re in. So I respect their decision and I’ll be back in the spring.”
The athletic department statement announcing Blount’s suspension did not specify a time frame for his return. Oregon opens spring practices on March 30. He is expected to be the Ducks’ starter this year with Johnson having graduated. Blount somewhat surprisingly chose to return to Oregon despite being labeled as an early round NFL draft pick in April had he left school a year early.
Blount’s average of 7.3 yards per carry last season was the most ever by any 1,000-yard rusher at Oregon. Blount had five rushes of 40 yards or more and one in each of the final three games of the season.
If Blount isn’t reinstated by spring ball, the Ducks would be down to two scholarship running backs: senior Andre Crenshaw and junior Remene Alston, who had foot surgery last fall. Redshirt freshman LaMichael James is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Oregon is still in the mix for top running back recruit Bryce Brown.
The Ducks also don’t yet know if head coach Mike Bellotti will return next year or will take the athletic director post and turn the team over to Chip Kelly, as has already been arranged.
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