University of Rhode Island football coach Darren Rizzi has challenged senior Jimmy Hughes, sophomore Anthony Ferrer and freshman Ryan Lawrence to compensate for the loss of All-American fullback Joe Casey, starting Saturday night at Fordham.

“We’re going to need Jimmy to step up and the other guys to grow up a lot,” Rizzi said yesterday.

URI is 1-0 after its 27-24 victory over Monmouth University last Saturday. Fordham will kick off its season this week.

Casey suffered a compound fracture when a Monmouth tackler’s helmet hit Casey’s lower left leg at the end of a six-yard run in the first quarter. He had surgery Saturday, and Dr. Joseph Fitzgerald, the team physician, said he should make a complete recovery and be able to play next season.

Hughes, a versatile 5-foot-10, 195-pound back, took over for Casey and finished with 46 rushing yards on 15 carries. He also caught two passes for 62 yards.

A halfback in the spread option offense of Rizzi’s predecessor, Tim Stowers, Hughes showed flashes of speed when he got running room and an ability to catch passes. He played in only two games as a freshman in 2005 but rushed for 118 yards at New Hampshire. He appeared in 11 games in 2006, rushed for 466 yards and caught 13 passes. He had a 106-yard game against Delaware. Last year he ran for 610 yards and 4 touchdowns and caught 19 passes for 300 yards and 2 TDs. He rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns at UNH, 119 yards at Brown and 106 yards against Fordham.

Hughes was a record-breaking runner (3,615 yards) at Staples High in Westport, Conn.

Ferrer, a 5-10, 225-pound back and special-teams player, is from West Greenwich but played for Cranston West. He redshirted in 2006 and appeared in 10 games in 2007, rushing for 196 yards and a touchdown. His best effort came in the season finale against Northeastern. Starting for Casey, who missed the last three games of 2007 because of shoulder surgery, Ferrer ran 25 times for 109 yards and a touchdown.

“Anthony is a role player who does a lot of things well,” Rizzi said. “He pass-blocks well, and he catches the ball out of the backfield. He had a great day Saturday on special teams (three tackles).”

Ferrer is 15 pounds lighter than a year ago because Rizzi and offensive coordinator Chris Pincince do not employ a fullback in most of their schemes, thus negating the need for backfield brawn.

Lawrence, 5-9, 185, from Bloomfield, N.J., is the other back in the mix. He carried four times for 27 yards Saturday in his collegiate debut. He will have to do better as the season progresses.

“I said to him yesterday in practice, ‘You’re not a freshman any more. You have played a game. We need more out of you,’ ” Rizzi said. Lawrence rushed for 1,200 yards and caught 20 passes last fall at Bloomfield High.

Hughes is the No. 1 running back now, with Lawrence second and Ferrer third. Rizzi said junior Michael Okunfolami (5-10, 195) of Providence and Canterbury Prep has a chance to play.

Casey’s loss is a blow to a young team that can benefit from senior leadership. He went down at the Monmouth 13-yard line as Jose Gumbs hit him in the leg with his helmet.

“The kid went in low on him,” Rizzi said, “and hit him with his helmet. It was a clean hit.”

Casey was in great pain as he was carted from the field.

“He’s such a competitor. . . . He apologized to me when he was leaving the field. He felt he let his team down,” Rizzi said. “I told him, ‘Look, you’ll get through this. You will play again.’ ”

Shoulder injuries have hampered Casey for much of his URI career. He wore a brace in 2006 and had surgery after the season. He had surgery again last fall after having been injured in the New Hampshire game and missed the last three games.

“I feel bad for him because of the injuries,” Rizzi said. “At the end of camp he had learned the new offense and was running the ball really well.”

Casey has returned to his off-campus housing, will attend classes this semester and undergo rehabilitation with the athletic trainers at URI. Fitzgerald inserted a metal rod and screws and told Rizzi the procedure was a success, and there was no ligament damage.

Casey has 2,915 career rushing yards and needs only 475 to break Pat Abbruzzi’s career record of 3,389 yards. Casey has told Rizzi he will return in 2009.

mszostak@projo.com