WKU’s starting running back from one week ago will be on the sidelines Saturday when the Toppers play No. 1 Alabama.

Junior Keshawn Simpson has officially been listed as “out” with a knee injury sustained against Austin Peay last Saturday.

Though the knee injury will hold Simpson out against the Crimson Tide, nothing is torn and he will be reevaluated next week, a WKU spokesman said.

Simpson rushed eight times for 60 yards against Austin Peay on Saturday before leaving the game.

The former Madison Central High School star scored the Toppers’ lone touchdown the last time they met the nation’s No. 1 team, a game last November in Tiger Stadium against LSU.

Junior Antonio Andrews will be elevated to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart in Simpson’s absence, while freshmen Leon Allen will be No. 2, coach Willie Taggart said Thursday.

Freshman Marquis Sumler and junior Ben Axon could also see time, Taggart said.

“It’s a chance for them to get more experience and them having a chance to play against the No. 1 team in the country,” Taggart said of his young running backs. “It’s an opportunity for these guys to go out and show why we recruited them.”

On the flip side, sophomore tight end Mitchell Henry will likely return to the field this week for the Toppers after missing last week’s game with a leg injury.

Henry caught eight passes for 105 yards and three touchdowns last season.

“As you can tell we do a lot of things with out tight ends so whenever we have all our guys healthy it’s just better for us,” Taggart said.

Other WKU injuries for this week are as follows:

Out:

—Jamal Forrest, Cornerback (Shoulder)

—Joel German, Wide Receiver (Shoulder)

—Tyler Higbee, Wide Receiver (Shoulder)

Questionable:

—Jim Murphree, Tight End (Shoulder)