Just got some news from Greg Schiano on the weekly Big East coaches' teleconference: Kordell Young, who suffered a knee injury Saturday against Norfolk State, will need surgery and miss the rest of the season.

Schiano was hopeful during a conference call with reporters yesterday that Young wouldn't need surgery, and even indicated there was a chance he could play against Maryland in two weeks, when the Knights are back on the field after a bye week.

But after Young was further examined by doctors, that hope vanished, leaving the Knights with a hole in the backfield when Heisman hopeful Ray Rice is out of the game.

Rice, who led the nation last year with 335 carries, is one of the most durable backs in the country, if not the most durable. But Young was seen as a valuable piece of the offense who, with more speed than Rice, could provide a change of pace in the backfield.

The sophomore from West Deptford played in all three of the Knights' games, rushing for 58 yards on 18 carries. Last year, he rushed for 138 yards on 29 carries and scored three touchdowns as a true freshman.

"We had a further test done and it looks like he's going to need surgery on that knee, so it looks like he'll be done for the year," Schiano said.

Young's absence will likely provide an opportunity from true freshman Mason Robinson, who saw his first action of the season against Norfolk State, and also could mean more carries for sophomore fullback Jack Corcoran.