COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M's disappointing season took another downturn Monday with news that running back Christine Michael tore his left anterior cruciate ligament and is out for the season.

"To lose a player like that and the dimensions he brings - leadership, speed, power and quickness - it's a devastating blow to your team," backup running back Ben Malena said. "As a team we have to come together and find ways to pick him up - and also pick our team up."

Michael, a junior from Beaumont West Brook, leads the Aggies in rushing with 899 yards on 149 carries. He had emerged as the No. 1 back midway through the season, but senior Cyrus Gray has earned more carries this year (159 for 733 yards). Michael tore the ACL in the Aggies' 41-25 loss at Oklahoma on Saturday. He exited in the third quarter with a team-high 88 yards on 17 carries.

A year ago, Gray took over the featured spot when Michael broke his leg in the season's eighth game. Gray finished the year with seven consecutive 100-yard rushing games in becoming A&M's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2003 (Courtney Lewis).

"Cyrus did it last year, and he's going to have to do it again this year," A&M coach Mike Sherman said. "He's like all of us and disappointed that Christine is out, but Cyrus plays better when he gets more carries in the game and finds his niche."

The Aggies are shy of running backs after Bradley Stephens, who already had earned his degree, took a job in the corporate world over returning for his senior season and freshman Mister Jones withdrew from school in September for what Sherman dubbed personal reasons.

The Aggies, once ranked seventh this season but now 5-4 after two consecutive losses, have regular-season games remaining at Kansas State on Saturday and at home against Kansas and rival Texas. Depending on how Gray and Malena fare, Sherman might have to pull a redshirt off freshman Will Randolph.

If Gray and Malena stay healthy, however, Randolph likely won't be needed, considering Malena had only eight carries in nine games as the No. 3 back. Malena (5-8, 195) scored early in the fourth quarter at OU when he darted 16 yards untouched into the end zone.

"I'm not the biggest guy in the world, but I do have power and quickness," said Malena. "My asset is my size. I'm able to hide behind the offensive line, and once I see a hole, I have enough explosion to get through it."

Michael arrived at A&M a little more than two years ago as Sherman's most touted recruit in his four seasons in Aggieland. He rushed for 631 yards last season prior to the injury and 844 as a freshman. This season was his most productive despite his splitting time with Gray.

"This is an important lesson about how important academics are," said Sherman, who added that Michael likely will undergo surgery in a couple of weeks. "Christine certainly will be able to come back from this, but you never know when your last game is going to be."

brent.zwerneman@chron.com

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