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HOUSTON — Southern Miss knew last week that it would not have the services of its starting running back for Friday's Houston Bowl.
Now, USM isn't sure whether its starting quarterback will be ready to go against Oklahoma State at Reliant Stadium.
Sophomore Micky D'Angelo was held out during the latter half of Wednesday's final day of full practice, his throwing motion hampered by a pulled muscle over the left side of his ribs.
"He's still not right," USM coach Jeff Bower said. "It's affecting his throwing a little. He's having a hard time putting velocity on the ball.
"Hopefully, the next day or so will make a difference, but he was forcing it."
Bower said D'Angelo's playing status would be a game-time decision.
"We'll see how he's throwing before and go from there," Bower said.
D'Angelo said he expected to be in the starting lineup.
"I'll be able to play," D'Angelo said. "I'm planning on starting."
D'Angelo suffered the injury early on during this past Saturday's practice in Hattiesburg. He said team trainers have not told him whether he pulled the oblique muscle along the side of his abdomen or tore cartilage between his ribs.
"I guess they don't want me thinking about it," D'Angelo said with a smile. "(Wednesday), I was out for the last 20 minutes just as a precaution. I'll be ready."
If not, freshman Dustin Almond would get the start, with sophomore Zac White in reserve. Those two took the snaps down the stretch of Wednesday's workout.
"I don't know what's going on," Almond said. "They really haven't said anything about it.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's kind of like at the beginning of the year where I'll be playing in the goal-line package, but as far as anything else, nobody's said anything about that."
USM already had lost its leading rusher, senior Derrick Nix. Nix, who notched the third 1,000-yard rushing season of his career, was diagnosed with a degenerative kidney disease last week that brought an end to his football career.
Sophomore James Walley will start Friday, with freshmen Anthony Harris and Willie Adams in reserve.
D'Angelo said he didn't feel more pressure with Nix out.
"All three of those can do the job or they wouldn't be here," D'Angelo said. "Now, if the running game's not working (Friday), then, yeah, maybe there's a little more on you to make some plays. But we all have faith in the guys we have."
D'Angelo and Almond both have started games this season for the Golden Eagles. D'Angelo started USM's first five games, but was pulled against South Florida after the lingering effects from two concussions suffered during earlier games hampered his effectiveness.
Almond started the next three games, before giving way in the second half of the UAB game. D'Angelo returned then, helping the Golden Eagles to a 20-13 victory over the Blazers.
He then started USM's final three games of the year, though he and Almond rotated frequently in the season-finale against East Carolina.
D'Angelo was the more effective and efficient passer this season, lauded by his coaches for his decision-making at the line and reading coverages.
He completed 122 of 231 passes (52.8 percent) for 1,647 yards and seven touchdowns with seven interceptions.
Almond, who has the stronger arm and the better running/scrambling ability of the two, was used early in the season on short yardage/goal-line packages.
Even when D'Angelo was healthy, he saw his playing time gradually increased, playing more series as the season went along.
But after a solid performance against South Florida after replacing D'Angelo, Almond struggled throwing the ball. For the season, he completed 52 of 111 passes (46.8 percent) for 584 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions. He's also run for two scores.
White, who fell out of the three-way quarterback competition after contracting mononucleosis this summer, has not taken a snap this season.
Oklahoma State linebacker Paul Duren said the Cowboys are prepared to play against both USM quarterbacks.
"We know they've played two guys this year, and (D'Angelo) throws the ball pretty well," Duren said. "We're kind of expecting to see both of them."
Now, USM isn't sure whether its starting quarterback will be ready to go against Oklahoma State at Reliant Stadium.
Sophomore Micky D'Angelo was held out during the latter half of Wednesday's final day of full practice, his throwing motion hampered by a pulled muscle over the left side of his ribs.
"He's still not right," USM coach Jeff Bower said. "It's affecting his throwing a little. He's having a hard time putting velocity on the ball.
"Hopefully, the next day or so will make a difference, but he was forcing it."
Bower said D'Angelo's playing status would be a game-time decision.
"We'll see how he's throwing before and go from there," Bower said.
D'Angelo said he expected to be in the starting lineup.
"I'll be able to play," D'Angelo said. "I'm planning on starting."
D'Angelo suffered the injury early on during this past Saturday's practice in Hattiesburg. He said team trainers have not told him whether he pulled the oblique muscle along the side of his abdomen or tore cartilage between his ribs.
"I guess they don't want me thinking about it," D'Angelo said with a smile. "(Wednesday), I was out for the last 20 minutes just as a precaution. I'll be ready."
If not, freshman Dustin Almond would get the start, with sophomore Zac White in reserve. Those two took the snaps down the stretch of Wednesday's workout.
"I don't know what's going on," Almond said. "They really haven't said anything about it.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's kind of like at the beginning of the year where I'll be playing in the goal-line package, but as far as anything else, nobody's said anything about that."
USM already had lost its leading rusher, senior Derrick Nix. Nix, who notched the third 1,000-yard rushing season of his career, was diagnosed with a degenerative kidney disease last week that brought an end to his football career.
Sophomore James Walley will start Friday, with freshmen Anthony Harris and Willie Adams in reserve.
D'Angelo said he didn't feel more pressure with Nix out.
"All three of those can do the job or they wouldn't be here," D'Angelo said. "Now, if the running game's not working (Friday), then, yeah, maybe there's a little more on you to make some plays. But we all have faith in the guys we have."
D'Angelo and Almond both have started games this season for the Golden Eagles. D'Angelo started USM's first five games, but was pulled against South Florida after the lingering effects from two concussions suffered during earlier games hampered his effectiveness.
Almond started the next three games, before giving way in the second half of the UAB game. D'Angelo returned then, helping the Golden Eagles to a 20-13 victory over the Blazers.
He then started USM's final three games of the year, though he and Almond rotated frequently in the season-finale against East Carolina.
D'Angelo was the more effective and efficient passer this season, lauded by his coaches for his decision-making at the line and reading coverages.
He completed 122 of 231 passes (52.8 percent) for 1,647 yards and seven touchdowns with seven interceptions.
Almond, who has the stronger arm and the better running/scrambling ability of the two, was used early in the season on short yardage/goal-line packages.
Even when D'Angelo was healthy, he saw his playing time gradually increased, playing more series as the season went along.
But after a solid performance against South Florida after replacing D'Angelo, Almond struggled throwing the ball. For the season, he completed 52 of 111 passes (46.8 percent) for 584 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions. He's also run for two scores.
White, who fell out of the three-way quarterback competition after contracting mononucleosis this summer, has not taken a snap this season.
Oklahoma State linebacker Paul Duren said the Cowboys are prepared to play against both USM quarterbacks.
"We know they've played two guys this year, and (D'Angelo) throws the ball pretty well," Duren said. "We're kind of expecting to see both of them."