Rushing champion Cobbs done for the year

— -- DENTON, Texas -- North Texas running back Patrick Cobbs, theNCAA's leading rusher and scorer last season, will sit out the restof this season because of a knee injury.

Cobbs sprained ligaments in his left knee against FloridaAtlantic on Sept. 11, the second game for the Mean Green (0-4). Hemissed the last two games.

Coach Darrell Dickey said there was too much a risk of permanentdamage if Cobbs tried to rush his recovery. The school will seek amedical redshirt for Cobbs to return next season as a fifth-year senior.

Cobbs ran for a school-record 1,680 yards and 19 touchdowns lastseason with four 200-yard games. His 152.7 yards rushing and 11.5points per game led the nation.

After breaking a bone in the thumb on his right hand just beforethe season, Cobbs had just 1 yard on eight carries in an opening65-0 loss at Texas to end his streak of nine straight 100-yardgames. He had 20 carries for 57 yards against Florida Atlanticbefore getting hurt on a short run in the third quarter.

Jamario Thomas ran for a North Texas freshman record 247 yards in hisfirst start at Colorado. Dickey is hopeful that Thomas, sinceslowed by a hamstring injury, can start Saturday against MiddleTennessee when the three-time defending Sun Belt champion MeanGreen open conference play.

Cobbs has 2,896 career rushing yards. The school record isJa'Quay Wilburn's 3,120 from 1997-2000.