Andre Brown cleared to play Saturday

Welcome back North Carolina State running back Andre Brown.

The junior came back to practice this week and was cleared to play Saturday at Wake Forest. Brown fractured his foot Oct. 6 at Florida State when he rushed up the middle for no gain late in the second quarter against the Seminoles.

It was originally feared that Brown would be finished for the season, which would fit in with all the other season-ending injuries the Wolfpack have suffered through this season. However, as the weeks went on, NC State held out hope that he could come back this year, listing him weekly on the injury report.

Brown has rushed for 438 yards on 92 carries and five touchdowns this year, while also adding 20 receptions for 169 yards in six games this year.

Brown rushed for 133 yards and three touchdowns vs. Wofford on Sept. 15, and he had 92 yards on 16 carries against Louisville on Sept. 29.

Redshirt sophomore running back Jamelle Eugene has blossomed in Brown's place, and will likely be the principle ball carrier against Wake Forest and the regular season finale vs. Maryland at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Eugene is coming off the best game of his career, rushing for 159 yards on 32 carries and three touchdowns in the big 31-27 victory against North Carolina last Saturday. He has rushed for 604 yards on 144 carries and four touchdowns, and has caught 34 passes for 214 yards and a score this year.

In other injury news, backup fullback Cedric Hickman has been cleared to play after suffering a shoulder strain. However, backup defensive tackle John Bedics is out after suffering a concussion vs. the Tar Heels.