Broken wrist sidelines BG's Samuel for spring

Ohio defensive end Tremayne Scott, 90, trips up Bowling Green's Anthon Samuel, 6, during a game at Bowling Green.

BOWLING GREEN -- Anthon Samuel, the Mid-American Conference freshman of the year last season, will miss the rest of the Bowling Green State University football team's spring practices after suffering a wrist injury.

Samuel fractured his wrist early in practice Saturday and had surgery Monday, according to Falcons football coach Dave Clawson.

"Indications are he will be back to full strength by the end of May," Clawson said.

In nine games last season Samuel ran for 844 yards, giving him an average of 93.8 yards per game that ranked third nationally among FBS freshmen runners. Samuel ran for more than 100 yards in five contests and finished with five rushing touchdowns while catching 15 passes for 93 yards.

Clawson said the loss of Samuel is important for several reasons, one of which being this was the first time Samuel has participated in spring practice.

"You don't want anyone to miss practice," Clawson said. "If practice wasn't important, we wouldn't do it.

"By the same token, injuries happen in the spring. You keep your fingers crossed that he will be allowed to return by the time the summer program starts, and you hope he doesn't miss fall camp."

Samuel's injury is the latest at the running back position. Jordan Hopgood had knee surgery after the season and is not participating in spring drills, leaving the reps to Jamel Martin, John Pettigrew, and walk-on Alex Carter.

"Every spring one position ends up getting thin, and for us this year, it's the running backs," Clawson said.

Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com, 419-724-6481 or on Twitter @jwagnerblade.