Donald Bowens, who led N.C. State with 598 receiving yards in 2007, is out for the season because of a hairline fracture of his spine, coach Tom O'Brien said Friday night.

Bowens tried practicing for the first few days of training camp, but the injury prevented him from playing after that. He underwent a series of medical tests and learned the results Thursday. A junior, Bowens made 41 catches last season and tied for the team lead with three touchdown catches.