ISU's leading rusher Darrelynn Dunn could miss Saturday's game with a fractured hand. (GoRedbirds.com photo) 

By Bryan Bloodworth

NORMAL - Illinois State football coach Brock Spack confirmed Tuesday that senior standout running back Darrelynn Dunn suffered a fractured hand in last week's 34-31 Missouri Valley Conference victory at South Dakota.

Spack said it will be "a game-time decision" whether Dunn plays in Saturday's homecoming game against Southern Illinois at 1 p.m. 

"We'll take our time and evaluate his progress this week," Spack said during his weekly news conference. "Whether he plays is up in the air at this point. We'll find out more as the week goes on if he can play or how much he can play."

Dunn, a Bloomington High School product, leads the Redbirds with 533 yards and nine touchdowns. He ranks fourth in the conference with a 105.8 yards per game average and has been over 100 yards in four of the first five games.

"The fracture is in a good place (just above the wrist)," added Spack. "We don't want the fracture to move because if it does then you have to pin it. That would be bad...set him back a couple of more weeks. And we don't want to do anything that could hamper him later in life."

If Dunn doesn't play, the Redbirds will use the rotation of Jonathan Miller, Cameron Hunt and Marshaun Coprich to carry the ball.

"We feel very comfortable with all three," said  Spack. "They are all good runners and football players."

Bryan Bloodworth can be reached at bryan.bloodworth@cumulus.com