• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

South Florida visits NC State in final non-conference tuneup

Sep 27, 2008 - 10:05 AM (14) South Florida (4-0) at North Carolina St (2-2), 7:30 pm EDT

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Relieved that Brouce Mompremier appears to have avoided a serious injury, 14th-ranked South Florida visits North Carolina State on Saturday in a rematch of the 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Mompremier was injured when his helmet collided with the hip of Florida International safety Carlton Williams in last week's 17-9 victory. The linebacker had to be transported to Memorial Hospital in Tampa, but doctors ruled out any severe spinal injuries.

A senior, Mompremier was released from the hospital Sunday and will meet with South Florida doctors in the coming days to determine the specific nature of his injuries.

Mompremier, who had started 16 of the previous 17 games, is expected to miss at least the next two contests. Junior Chris Robinson will make his first career start this week.

Saturday is the final non-conference contest for the Bulls, who begin Big East Conference play next Thursday against Pittsburgh.

The Bulls (4-0) have featured an explosive offense under senior quarterback Matt Grothe. But last week they won with defense, snapping a 20-game losing streak when scoring less than 20 points.

In the meeting against North Carolina State three seasons ago, South Florida was blanked, 14-0, in the program's first bowl game. It also marked the last time the Bulls were shut out.

The Wolfpack (2-2) appeared ready to enter Saturday's game with momentum after upsetting then-No. 17 East Carolina, 30-24, in overtime last weekend.

Freshman Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes for North Carolina State, which had not scored an offensive touchdown against an opponent from the Football Bowl Subdivision since last November.

However, North Carolina State coach Tom O'Brien said Monday that Wilson will not play against South Florida after suffering an undisclosed injury last week. Linebacker Nate Irving, the team's leading tackler, also will miss the game after suffering a lower leg injury against East Carolina.