Oregon State RB, lineman medically retire

Two expected contributors to the Oregon State offense have medically retired.

According to Oregonlive.com, both Damien Haskins and Leo Fuimaono have decided to hang up their cleats. Haskins, a junior running back, was expected to be in the mix for increased carries this season while Fuimano, a redshirt junior, was the team’s projected starter at center.

The 5-foot-9, 223-pound Haskins rushed for a combined 111 yards and one touchdown on 20 attempts over the past two seasons. He redshirted in 2013. Haskins worked with the second-team offense during spring ball, but did not play in the spring game. Beavers coach Gary Andersen praised Haskins’ development.

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“He’s a big strong physical kid that needs to use that power,” Andersen said in April.

No details were offered about the injury (or injuries) that led to Haskins’ medical retirement.

Fuimano, a transfer from Los Angeles Harbor Community College, never played a down for the Beavers. A torn pectoral muscle kept him out for the 2015 campaign – his first in Corvallis. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder bounced back from that injury and worked with the first-team during spring ball, but stepped away from the game after a spinal stenosis diagnosis.

Fuimano said he experienced neck pain during spring practice.

From OregonLive.com:

Fuimaono said he started feeling neck pain after hitting another player during a drill in the second week of spring practice. Doctors told him he risked paralysis if he continued to play.

“I was thinking about the bigger picture later in life,” he said. “I feel good about my decision.”

Sophomore Yanni Demogerontas slid into the first-team role at center “by the end of spring practice,” per OregonLive. Junior Brayden Kearsley, a BYU transfer, and sophomore Mason Johnson are also in the mix.

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Oregon State went 2-10 in 2015 – Andersen’s first season running the program. The Beavers open up their 2016 slate at Minnesota on Sept. 1.

For more Oregon State news, visit BeaverBlitz.com.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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