Illinois interim head coach Vic Koenning says his team could be down a pair of backfield members for the bowl game; fullback Jay Prosch has been hospitalized with a staph infection and running back Jason Ford could be ruled academically ineligible.
That would leave Illinois (6-6) with two tailbacks who regularly played this season: senior Troy Pollard, a backup with 462 yards on 62 carries, and Donovonn Young, a freshman who had 406 yards on 75 carries. Young missed the last regular season game with an ankle injury.
Ford was the team's starting running back in 2011 and led the Illini with 600 yards rushing on 155 carries. Pollard and Young carried the ball 137 times between the two of them.
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