Locker’s status uncertain

Washington coach Tyrone Willingham kept the talk vague Monday about the status of star quarterback Jake Locker, but does believe the sophomore’s hamstring strain isn’t major.

Willingham coyly avoided addressing Locker’s status over the weekend, saying he had not viewed the results of an MRI taken on Locker’s hamstring and that the injury wasn’t of much concern. Locker was injured in practice last Thursday and had an MRI a day later.

Willingham seemed to have a bit more information Monday, saying trainers have told him that Locker is day-to-day. He said Locker was “limited” in practice Monday morning.

“Any injury is always some concern,” Willingham said. “But a major concern? No.”

A significant injury to Locker could be a crushing blow for a team already facing the challenges of being young at the skill positions on offense and facing a daunting schedule to start the season.

The Huskies open at Oregon on Aug. 30, then return home for consecutive non-conference matchups against BYU and Oklahoma.

UCLA’s Olson sidelined

UCLA quarterback Ben Olson will have surgery on his broken right foot, an injury that’s expected to keep him out for at least two months.

The decision was announced Monday – a day after the left-handed senior learned he had fractured the fifth metatarsal in his foot for the second time in four months. The surgery will be performed today, when Olson will have a screw placed in his foot to assist in the healing.

Olson was injured when he faked a handoff Saturday before taking a misstep. It was just the latest in a long time of injuries.

Patrick Cowan, who took over when Olson was sidelined by injury last season and was expected to be the No. 1 quarterback, had surgery after injuring his knee in spring practice and will miss the season.

UW’s Shaw leaves team

Washington football coach Tyrone Willingham says sophomore wide receiver Curtis Shaw has left the team for undisclosed family reasons.

In a statement released Monday, Willingham said Shaw needs to be with his family in Stockton, Calif. The length of his absence from school is unknown. A school spokesman says Shaw is not in any academic or legal trouble.

Carroll ranked No. 1

Montana’s Carroll College is ranked first in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.

The Saints, who won their fifth national title last season, earned all 15 first place votes.

The University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota was ranked second, while Montana Tech came in 21st.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and independents. The first regular season Top 25 poll will be announced Sept. 15.