Bowden went to the hospital after Wednesday night's shooting along with athletics director Bobby Robinson, director of student athlete enrichment Bill D'Andrea and some teammates.

"We are certainly keeping Javis and his family in our prayers," receiver Brian Wofford said. "He is a member of our family and we are going to stand by him and help him any way possible."

A police report said Austin was alone at his home at the time of the shooting. He had not been at practice Wednesday, sports information director Tim Bourret said.

Someone, probably Austin, was able to call 911 at 6:06 p.m., department investigator Mike Eppes said. Eppes has requested the tape from Anderson County dispatchers to determine who made the call and what was said.

"It was self-inflicted the way it appears now, but we're still investigating," Eppes said.

Officer Carl Glenn saw Austin come out the back door of the house and sit on the edge of the porch, according to the police report. He was "extremely incoherent," with a wound to his right temple and his right eye partially detached.

Glenn found a shell casing on the floor and a .380-caliber pistol on the bed. There was blood on the bed and floor, the report said.

Austin, a junior who started the first two games this season for the Tigers, has 36 carries for 120 yards in five games this season. He is a two-time letterman and had his best game in the opener against Marshall.

"Javis is a popular member of this team who had been working hard in practice," Bowden said of Austin, who played in only three of the past eight games.

Austin was the state's top high school running back in 1997, when he rushed for 2,389 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior at D.W. Daniel High.