Juco backs future in doubt

North Dakota State College of Science running back Jerome Messam entered the season as one of the top junior college prospects in America. After rushing for 1,100 yards as a Freshman, the Canada native was named to the Rivals.com Junior College Top 50 as his sophomore season began, landing in the No. 2 spot in the rankings.

"We have had coaches from all over the country already come by," NDSCS assistant coach Mike Shafer said last spring. "Kansas State and Texas A&M were by for our spring game. We are also still expecting vistis from Southern Cal and Buffalo. There are a lot of good schools interested in Jerome."

Despite the early attention from coaches, the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder has seen his season and his NDSCS career come to an end.

"Jerome has been dismissed from our program," Shafer said. "He violated team policies. He is still a student at North Dakota State College of Sciences at this time. We have notified all of the schools that were recruiting him of the situation."

Shafer did not know what the future held for Messam.

Messam's spot for the Wildcats has been taken by sophomore running back Brian McNeill.

"Brian has played exceptionally these last three games," Shafer said. "He has gone for over 700 yards during that time. He was over 300 the first week, then 198 and then he went over 200 yards on Saturday.

"The first game he was sick when he played. The second week he had an ankle sprain and the third game the field was a mud hole. We have one game left and he might actually get the chance to have a clean field and be healthy."

The 5-foot-8, 190-pound McNeill is a native of Philadelphia, Pa.

"Brian has already picked up some interest from Boise State, Minnesota and Louisville," Shafer said. "As the word gets out more and more about him, he'll pick up more interest."