Sean Fitz reported today that tailback Brandon Beachum will miss the rest of the season--i.e. the bowl game--with a broken leg. He was helped off the field Saturday against Wisconsin, but the nature of his injury wasn't known right away.
Beachum was announced with the senior class two weeks ago, but does still have one year of eligibility remaining. Should he chose to return, as Galen Hall told Fitz, he would obviously be welcomed back. Beachum has been injury-plagued for the better part of the last year and a half. He tore his ACL in 2010, and was hampered by a hamstring in this season.
The fourth-year junior finished the 2011 regular season with 34 carries for 134 yards. He hasn't revealed to anyone if he will return next season.
It would be a shame for Beachum to leave after this season, but it's of course his decision. Stephfon Green is gone, as will be Joe Suhey. And without any significant running backs committed to the class of 2012, Penn State will need all the depth it can muster for next season. Beachum is a very serviceable back who has shown flashes of great potential. It's very late in his career at Penn State, but players can break out at any time.
Good luck to Brandon, whatever his decision. And here's to a full recovery.
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