Cliff Kirkpatrick

Reserve running back Tony Carrasco left the Oregon State football team early this week. The third-year walk-on sophomore wasn’t in the plan for playing time, and decided to go elsewhere, coach Mike Riley said after Wednesday’s morning practice.

“I opened the door to him, but he has crossed the line now,” Riley said. “It was opportunity for him. He’s a great worker. He’s a major part of our deal, but he wasn’t in the playing part. He’s a great scout team player.”

Carrasco was listed third on the depth chart at the end of last year. However, junior Patrick Fuller and the two true freshmen Ryan McCants and Ahmed Mokhtar were getting more looks than he was during training camp.

“I talked with him in the spring and told him his best chance at playing was to transfer,” Riley said. “He wanted to try the fall camp. With the way it has gone, he’s made a personal decision to leave.”

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Senior defensive starters Dorian Smith and Derrick Doggett returned to practice at full speed for the first time in a week due to injury. Smith was sidelined with recurring headaches. The defensive end was held out over the concern of a concussion.

“I’m doing fine,” Smith said. “I’m actually doing great. It was just a weird hit. I was noticing I was getting headaches all the time. Someone must have gave me a good shot in the head.”

Doggett hurt his shoulder diving for a pass. Being one of the most experienced defenders, there was no rush to bring him back. He says the pain is gone.

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It’s two weeks until the season opener against Utah, and the Beavers are without a starting QB. Sophomores Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao continue to be steady, but neither has taken the job.

Riley is content to let them play it out through the week, and see what happens in Saturday’s final scrimmage of training camp.

“I think at this point anything is possible,” Riley said. “I can’t commit to anything — Lyle, Sean or both. I would say we are coming to that point (of deciding) pretty fast. Some time next week we’ll be in game prep.”

- Cliff

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