Correspondent Joe Rienzi checks in from Thursday's practice ...

TAMPA — USF may be without its leading running back from last season when it travels to play Central Florida Saturday. Sophomore Mike Ford, who has been battling an ankle injury suffered during USF’s 56-7 win last Saturday, may not make the trip to Orlando, USF coach Jim Leavitt said.

"Ford doesn’t look good," Leavitt said. "It will be a minor miracle if we even take him. I never want to say no and then all of the sudden he plays and everybody gets mad at me, but it would be a minor miracle. Those things happen, though."

Walk-on linebacker LaDre Watkins, one of four true freshmen to play last weekend for the Bulls, suffered a potentially serious knee injury during Thursday’s practice.

"His knee buckled," Leavitt said. "He’s probably not going to play Saturday."

Leavitt said that another injured running back — senior Ben Williams — looked good and was ready to go. He also said it would be hard not to bring sophomore tight end Trent Pupello, who has an injured ankle, to the game.