Liberty loses leading rusher to knee injury
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lynchburg, VA (SportsNetwork.com) - Liberty University's top rusher Desmond Rice will miss the 2014 season after having surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ACL in his right knee.
Rice, a senior hometown product from Lynchburg, suffered the injury recently.
He earned All-Big South second-team honors last season after rushing for career highs of 967 yards and 16 touchdowns and ranking second in the Big South Conference in yards per rush (5.2).
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Coach Turner Gill's post-spring practice depth chart now lists junior D.J. Abnar as Liberty's starting running back. Abnar rushed for 411 yards and six touchdowns last season.
The Flames, coming off an 8-4 record and co-championship in the Big South, will open the 2014 season on the road at North Carolina on Aug. 30 and play their home opener against Brevard on Sept. 13.