Rusty Simmons
Cal coach Jeff Tedford had yet to see the MRI results as of Friday, but he said the injury to starting fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou appears to involve the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. If that is the final diagnosis, the junior will miss at least three to four weeks. Ta'ufo'ou was injured during Thursday's scrimmage when he was hit on the outside of his knee in a solid tackle by safety Bernard Hicks. Ta'ufo'ou walked off the field under his own power and was in a knee brace by the end of the scrimmage. He has been impressive since the Holiday Bowl, in which he got his first start for Byron Storer, who broke his arm. Ta'ufo'ou is a bowling-ball-like blocker and has proved to be a receiving threat as well.
Tedford said sophomore Brian Holley and junior Zach Smith, a transfer from Duke, are next in line. "Holley has some experience in the offense and knows what we're doing, and, being an older guy, Zach has done a nice job of picking it up," Tedford said. "They are both physical guys and can handle that job."
Briefly: Tedford said Hicks sustained a mild concussion, but not on one of his patented crushing hits. He was inadvertently kicked in the head as he went to make a tackle. ... Sophomore cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson was back at practice Friday after missing the scrimmage with a slight ankle tweak. He made a nice cut and break on a pass intended for DeSean Jackson. ... Redshirt freshman cornerback Charles Amadi continues to be hampered by a nagging ankle injury, according to Tedford.
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