UND running back Otis Weah won't play against Southern Illinois
Oct. 16—CARBONDALE, Ill. — The UND offense will try to find rhythm Saturday afternoon against No. 4 Southern Illinois without one of its best players.
Running back Otis Weah is out sick and didn't travel to Carbondale, where the Fighting Hawks will kick off at 2 p.m. at Saluki Stadium.
Weah, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award in the spring, will miss his second game of the season. He was benched earlier this fall against Drake.
In four games, Weah, a powerful running back from Moorhead, has 73 carries for 304 yards and three touchdowns. All three touchdowns came in UND's Week 1 win at Idaho State.
The Hawks have struggled to find running room for Weah this fall, as the team has shuffled lineups on its offensive line.
Weah ran 15 times for 58 yards last week against South Dakota. His longest run of the season is 16 yards.
Weah's absence opens the door for junior Luke Skokna, who ran for 123 yards and a touchdown on eight carries when Weah was sat out against Drake.
Redshirt freshman Isaiah Smith ran for 125 yards on 12 carries against Drake and will likely see an increased workload against the Salukis.
UND's two other running backs in Carbondale are true freshman Gaven Ziebarth and junior Austin Clemetson, a transfer from Wyoming.
