Sources: Opelt iffy for Saturday

TOLEDO, Ohio - Sources close to the situation say UT quarterback Aaron Opelt is unlikely to play this Saturday against Northern Illinois due to an injury to his throwing shoulder. Publicly, the Rockets beg to differ.

"Just to hear from the doctor that it's not torn. It's not broken. It's the best news I've heard," Opelt said during the team's weekly press conference.

His coach, Tim Beckman, added, "It's going to be a day-by-day thing, but we're saying that he's probable, right now."

On Sunday night, a day after he left the Western Michigan game in the 2nd quarter, Opelt attended practice, but he couldn't throw. The senior from Fremont Ross is shooting for Wednesday to start practicing for Northern Illinois.

"I told Coach today - if there's any chance that I can be on that field, I'm going to be out there with my teammates," Opelt said.

"That's one of those things where, whatever I have to throughout the week, as many times in the training room, I'm going to do whatever I can to get out there. I've only got six (games) more with these guys, and I don't want to miss one of them."

If he does miss the game, true freshman Austin Dantin will make his first collegiate start. Dantin stepped up in relief of Opelt against Western Michigan with three touchdown passes.

"I thought Austin did a great job," Beckman said. "I thought our players rallied around Austin. Took him a little bit of time, but I thought he did a good job of coming in and managing the football game and scoring."

Truth be told, though, the Rockets want their senior quarterback in there as soon as possible.

Senior running back DaJuane Collins says, "It would be big time, you know, not only because of his arm, but because his leadership ability."