Running back Marcus Shaw has been added to the list of true freshmen likely to play for the Bulls this season, as coach Skip Holtz said Monday that he's shown enough to be in the rotation for playing time.

"We've got a logjam," Holtz said on the Big East's weekly media teleconference. "Over the last two weeks, when you look at the job that (Bradley) Battles has done and (Demetris) Murray and even the young Marcus Shaw, they've put themselves in the mix. We've got four tailbacks that will all play and can all play. I look at four guys who are doing a nice job that all will play a role and I think all will play on Saturday."

Senior Mo Plancher entered the season as a projected starter, but has been slowed by a shoulder injury in the past 10 days; Holtz said he expects him to be cleared to play in Saturday's opener against I-AA Stony Brook. Holtz had previously mentioned sophomore Demetris Murray and redshirt freshman Bradley Battles as competing for carries -- the most recent depth chart had Battles listed as a co-starter with Plancher.

Now Shaw has joined the fray, making it seven true freshmen Holtz has said he's strongly considering for playing this fall. Cornerback Terrence Mitchell and safety Mark Joyce appear to be the only freshmen on defense, with quarterback Bobby Eveld, tackle Quinterrius Eatmon and receivers Stephen Bravo-Brown and Deonte Welch as options on offense. Welch has been slowed by injury lately and could see Bravo-Brown take his spot in playing this season.