Ore will not play for Hokies next year

3/19/2008 3:09 PM

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -Star running back Branden Ore will not play for Virginia Tech next year, a decision reached after meetings with coach Frank Beamer.

Ore would have been a redshirt senior. On his Facebook profile he said he was ``making life decisions right now.''

``We have decided that it would be best for Branden to pursue other opportunities,'' Beamer said in a statement Wednesday. ``Branden has had many great moments here at Virginia Tech, and we wish him well.''

Beamer said he would have no further comment. Sports information officials did not immediately return a phone message left by The Associated Press. An e-mail message left for Ore was not immediately returned, either.

In January, a federal jury convicted one of Ore's friends of possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute. Prosecutors subpoenaed Ore, who was riding in a car with Tony Majette of Christiansburg in June 2006 when police stopped them and found two bags of drugs in the car. Ore was not charged.

Ore led the Hokies in rushing with 992 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was an all-Atlantic Coast Conference pick as a sophomore in 2006, rushing for 1,137 yards and 16 touchdowns.