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Shakur Nesmith was one of the more intriguing storylines of training camp for the UMass Minutemen. A former Temple commit, Nesmith spent the first few weeks of his UMass career demonstrating that he had the ability to earn a scholarship in Amherst before ultimately winning himself the start for the season opener.
The next part of Nesmith's career is now somewhat in question as he has been ruled out for the Minutemen's game this weekend against regional foe Maine, according to Dan Malone of MassLive.com.
#UMass freshman WR Shakur Nesmith has been ruled out for Saturday's home opener vs. Maine. No update on Rob Blanchflower's consultation yet.
— Daniel Malone (@Daniel_Malone) September 3, 2013
Nesmith left the game late against Wisconsin after making the second of his two catches. Nesmith's pair of receptions tied him with Ricardo Miller and Brandon Howard for second on the team while his 14 yards place him fourth.
Likely beneficiaries of Nesmith's injury are freshman E.J. Burston and sophomore Bernard Davis.
As Malone's tweet also points out, no decision has been made on whether senior tight tend Rob Blanchflower will return this week or if they will wait to bring him out the following weekend at Kansas State. Until then, Derek Beck remains the No. 1 tight end and if he can keep producing six-catch afternoons they won't feel Blanchflower's absence quite as much -- at least in statistical terms.
Also still a question mark is junior tailback Jordan Broadnax. According to Malone, coach Charley Molnar said he will be cautious with Broadnax and Blanchflower leading up to the game and make a decision when the time is right.