Navy officials said yesterday that quarterback Ricky Dobbs will not play against Wake Forest on Saturday.
Sports-information director Scott Strasemeier said Dobbs, who has a cracked bone in his right kneecap, didn't practice yesterday.
Dobbs, a junior, was injured on Navy's second offensive play against SMU last Saturday night, but played the entire game.
Dobbs leads the team with 579 rushing yards and leads the nation with 16 rushing touchdowns.
Sophomore Kriss Proctor will make his first career start on Saturday in place of Dobbs.
Coach Ken Niumatalolo of the 5-2 Midshipmen had said earlier in the week that he would let Dobbs make the decision about playing, but the pain from the kneecap became worse yesterday.
Dobbs had been the catalyst of 5-2 Navy's Flex-bone attack, having carried the ball 167 times.
Fullback Vince Murray is second on the team with 75 carries.
Niumatalolo said that Proctor, who rushed 14 times for 82 yards two weeks ago vs. Rice, has been practicing this week as though he will start against Wake Forest.
"I would love to give (Dobbs) a week off to get ready, but obviously we've got a very good team coming in here that we have to play," Niumatalolo said.
"And if he can't play, I've got confidence in Kriss that he can get it done."
dcollins@wsjournal.com.
727-7323
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement