By
Maxx Wolfson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Senior tailback Leon Callen, as expected, will not be on the Arizona football team this season due to academic troubles.
Callen, who did not participate at Camp Cochise this summer because he was attending summer classes, leaves a two-man race for the starting running back between sophomores Leo Mills and Larry Croom.
The team was expecting that Callen would not return to the field this season after missing the team's summer camp last week.
Mills, who was competing with Callen for the starting job at tailback, will miss the competition but welcomes the opportunity to start.
"Leon and I were fellow running backs," Mills said. "But now it will give me an opportunity to get more carried."
Callen, who missed most of 1999 spring football due to academic woes, gained 183 yards on 35 carries while playing in 11 games last season.
The 5-9, 188 pound senior from Concord, Calif. came into fall camp as the most experienced tailback.
Callen's departure leaves the Wildcats without a veteran at tailback, forcing a platoon situation between Mills and Croom.
"Larry (Croom) and I are going to split time in the Utah game," Mills said. "Whoever has a better game according to the coaches will get the starting job against Ohio State the week after."
UA head coach Dick Tomey could not be reached for comment.
Maxx Wolfson can be reached at sports@wildcat.arizona.edu
