Davenport out with foot injury

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) -- Miami fullback Najeh Davenport will miss the Rose Bowl against fourth-ranked Nebraska because of a foot injury.

Davenport, a 6-foot-2, 248-pound senior starter, broke a bone in his right foot during practice Thursday and had season-ending surgery Friday morning. He will be sidelined six to eight weeks, meaning he might not be ready for the NFL combine in February.

"He looked as good as I've seen him look in a long time," coach Larry Coker said. "He was really having fun. He had a big smile on his face, was really running well and I'm disappointed for him."

Running backs coach Don Soldinger said freshman Willis McGahee will start at fullback against the Huskers on Jan. 3. Fullbacks Jarrett Payton, Robert Williams and Kyle Cobia also could see action.

"I'm excited but also sad because Najeh's a guy who's been here five years and worked hard and was the most unselfish person in the program," Payton said. "And he's not getting a chance to get a piece of the big pie. I'm really disappointed for him."

Davenport missed the majority of the 1999 season after tearing ligaments in his right knee, returned last season and moved to fullback because of several injuries at the position.

He ran 23 times for 54 yards, caught 14 passes for 190 yards and scored five touchdowns this season. But numbers hardly show his importance to the team. The top-ranked Hurricanes call Davenport their best backfield blocker and the key to picking up blitzes and helping protect quarterback Ken Dorsey.

Miami has given up just four sacks this season.

"We're going to miss him. He's our leader at fullback," Payton said. "But we have to step up and play because we have to win this game. This is the big one. We've got to win this one. Getting this far and not winning would be deflating, and would make us go crazy."

McGahee started the season as the backup tailback, but sprained a knee against West Virginia in October and missed three games. In the meantime, freshman Frank Gore emerged as the running back of the future and shared playing time with starter Clinton Portis.

When McGahee returned, Miami moved him to fullback.

"I don't have any concern," Soldinger said. "I'm not losing any sleep. This guy's a big-time football player and he'll play big time at fullback. I don't think we'll miss a lick."

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