Best will not play against Utah

Press release from California:

“Cal junior tailback Jahvid Best will not play in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl against Utah at Qualcomm Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 23. Head coach Jeff Tedford made the announcement to a group of reporters following the team’s workout at Memorial Stadium on Wednesday.
‘Jahvid will not play,’ Tedford said when asked about Best’s status for the Poinsettia Bowl. ‘Jahvid is doing excellent, but he’s been out a long time and since this game is so early, to get him back in game-ready form I don’t feel like that’s something that we can get done to have him ready to play. He’s doing excellent with his rehab, but this game is so early.’
Best was one of the nation’s top candidates for the Heisman Trophy during the early stages of the 2009 campaign. He was well on his way to a second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season before being injured when he landed hard in the end zone on a seven-yard touchdown run against Oregon State at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 7.
Best has not played or practiced since the injury that required medical personal to attend to him on the field and transport him to Highland General Hospital in Oakland for an overnight stay. He was released from the hospital on Nov. 8.
Despite missing the final three regular-season games of 2009, Best earned second-team All-Pac-10 honors and shared the club’s MVP award. He finished the 2009 season with 867 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns (12 rushing, 4 receiving) that are only one shy of Cal’s modern-era record and two short of the school’s all-time mark.”