In week four’s 20-14 loss to LSU, West Virginia running back Noel Devine suffered a bone bruise on his big toe on his right foot. The injury happened on the Mountaineers’ eighth play from scrimmage.
“It’s a pretty bad bruise. He came back in and ran tough, man. He was hurting. He was really hurting at halftime.” West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart told the Charleston Daily Mail.
Devine finished the game with 14 carries for 37 yards, his lowest of the season.
As the Mountaineers return to practice this week, so did their senior running back. With a bye week to rest and recover in week five, Devine is expected to return to the field when West Virginia takes on UNLV on Oct. 9.
“I don’t think the injury is that severe where we’d have to have an emergency plan, so it’ll be just like it was game in the game,” Stewart said. "(Fullback) Ryan Clarke would be the backup and then there’s Trey Johnson and Shawne Alston,” said Stewart, who also mentioned receiver Jock Sanders as a possible replacement should Devine be unavailable.
