The Oregon State football team took roll call on Monday, the first day of spring practice, and there were some key absences.

Senior running back Jeremy Francis has left the team, coach Mike Riley said. Francis missed the winter term to go home to Winter Park, Fla., so he could help his mother recover from heart surgery.

"He'll stay home and take care of business," Riley said. "I haven't talked to him in a while, but (running back coach) Reggie (Davis) did, and he said it was a very emotional talk."

Francis temporarily left the team after the fall term before joining the Beavers for the week of the Sun Bowl in December. His contributions were vital in helping the Beavers defeat Pittsburgh 3-0.

He is in good academic standing at this point but is not ready to return to the team. By the end of the spring he'll be too far behind to be eligible for the fall.

Starting running back Jacquizz Rodgers did not practice because his injured shoulder is not fully healed. Another MRI is scheduled for Wednesday, so he may not practice until next week at the earliest.

Even when he is cleared he'll be held out of all contact drills.

"I need more information before we put him in," Riley said. "I just want to make sure, and we'll get a variety of opinions heading into full speed practice for him. It may take through the week before we know that."

Rodgers, last season's Pacific-10 Conference player and freshman of the year, suffered the injury Nov. 22 at Arizona and missed the last two games of the season.

"Everything is good, it's just the flexility and being able to move my shoulder up above my head, that's the main (problem)," Rodgers said.

Backup running back Ryan McCants, greyshirt freshman Jovan Stevenson, former linebacker Will Darkins and walk-ons Clayton York, Jordan Jenkins and Josh Parish received the extra work.

Several other players sat out due to injury, most notably quarterback Lyle Moevao. He is out for at least three more months to recover from rotator cuff reconstruction.

"His shoulder (damage) was much more than everyone expected, even the doctor," Riley said. "But we expect him full speed in the summer."

Wide receiver Kyle Brown (Achilles), offensive lineman Wilder McAndrews (wrist), linebacker Paul Jones (knee) and Tonu Tuimalealiifano (knee) are out for the spring.

The Sept. 12 game at UNLV will kick off at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on CBS Sports' Sports Channel on HD.

The other game with a time set is the season-ending Civil War at 6 p.m. Dec. 3 in Eugene.