One week after Doug Marrone closed practice in response to the health issues surrounding his team, he announced that running back Prince-Tyson Gulley was out for the season.

Gulley, a sophomore who served as the backup for Antwon Bailey, will miss the remainder of 2011 after undergoing an operation for a broken collarbone — an injury that was sustained off the field.

‘Prince-Tyson Gulley is out for the year,’ Marrone said Monday during his press conference. ‘Everyone else to my knowledge should be fine unless something happens during the week.’

Therein lies the silver lining for Marrone and his staff. The Orange came out of the game against Rutgers with far fewer injuries than it did following the previous week’s win over Toledo.

But Gulley is still a big loss for SU.

Gulley had the best game of his career against the Rockets, rushing for 66 yards on 10 carries in his role spelling Bailey. His shiftiness and quick burst of speed through the offensive line provided the Orange with a change of pace yet to be seen out of the offense so far this season.

Sophomore Jerome Smith moves up to the No. 2 spot on the SU depth chart, with freshman Adonis Ameen-Moore and sophomore Steven Rene behind him.

Marrone said all three of those players will receive reps in practice following the loss of Gulley.

‘We’re going to play those players because if, God forbid, something happens to Antwon (Bailey), now everything is increased,’ Marrone said. ‘… We have to get those players involved in the system, and you’ll see all of those players involved in the game plan.’

But Marrone also shared some positive news with the media Monday, announcing that safeties Shamarko Thomas and Olando Fisher were scheduled to participate in practice later that day. Both have missed at least two games due to injuries.

He said they would be involved in a limited role to ‘see where they are at this point.’

‘If they do well today, then the question comes on how we’ll work them in,’ he said. ‘I don’t know if we’ll throw them in there full time because I haven’t seen them run on the field. But they’ll be out there in a limited role in individual drills today. If things go well, then tomorrow we’ll increase that role and have a better feel for what packages they’re playing and if they’re starting at all.’

That leaves Chandler Jones as the only uncertainty for the Orange. Marrone said the senior defensive end was going to be evaluated by the doctor on Tuesday, after which a decision would be made.

‘I think that he’s much closer now than he’s ever been,’ Marrone said. ‘I look forward to that.’

mjcohe02@syr.edu

Published on October 3, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Michael: mjcohe02@syr.edu | @Michael_Cohen13