Damien Haskins.JPG

Haskins (23) finishes his college career with 20 carries for 111 yards and one touchdown, including seven carries for 62 yards last year.

(Randy L. Rasmussen/Staff)

Oregon State football will be without two offensive pieces in 2016 due to medical retirements of running back Damien Haskins and offensive lineman Leo Fuimaono.

While neither player had secured a starting position heading into fall camp, both were expected to be contributors during the coming season.

Haskins, a compact, powerful back from New Boston, Texas, finishes his college career with 20 carries for 111 yards and one touchdown, including seven carries for 62 yards last year. He entered spring practice in the mix for reps as the Beavers searched for a reliable second option behind Ryan Nall, who emerged as a forceful runner midway through the 2015 season.

Head coach Gary Andersen highlighted Haskins' development after an open practice even though the junior was held out. The 5-foot-9, 223-pound back went on to miss the Spring Game two weeks later. Attempts to reach Haskins were not immediately successful.

Remaining options behind Nall include senior Tim Cook, junior college transfer Kyle White, speedy mulit-threat sophomore Paul Lucas and incoming freshman Artavis Pierce. The team's leading rusher at running bask last season, Storm Barrs-Woods, graduated, while backups Chris Brown (medical retirement) and Deltron Sands (dismissal) left the team before spring practice.

Leo Fuimaono missed the 2015 season with a pectoral injury after transferring from Los Angeles Harbor Community College.

Entering spring practice, Fuimaono was seen as a potential starter at center after the graduation of two-year starter Josh Mitchell.

The transfer from Los Angeles Harbor Community College arrived in Corvallis prior to the 2015 season with two remaining years of eligibility but never saw the field. He tore his pectoral muscle last summer and missed his entire first year and retired after being diagnosed with spinal stenosis, which he said doctors told him was congenital.

Fuimaono said he started feeling neck pain after hitting another player during a drill in the second week of spring practice. Doctors told him he risked paralysis if he continued to play.

"I was thinking about the bigger picture later in life," he said. "I feel good about my decision."

Leading contenders for the center spot heading into fall camp include sophomore Yanni Demogerontas, junior BYU transfer Brayden Kearsley and sophomore Mason Johnson. Demogerontas emerged as the first string option by the end of spring practice.

-- Danny Moran