Every Monday afternoon, be sure to catch-up on the injuries, news and notes from around college football and during the NFL Draft process.
By: Cory Burrell
James Conner Out for the Season
Pittsburgh running back James Conner, 2014’s ACC Offensive Player of the Year, will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn MCL in his right knee. Connor scored twice in the Panthers’ opener against Youngstown State before leaving the game in the second quarter and not returning. The severity of the injury comes as a bit of a surprise, as Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi told reporters after the game Connor would be fine and did not return in the second half mainly as a precaution. Today, Narduzzi said the further testing discovered the injury was much worse than what was initially expected.
“You just feel awful for him,” Narduzzi said. “There’s not a guy that worked harder than him during camp.”
Narduzzi declined to comment on if the injury would have any impact on if Conner would declare for the 2016 NFL Draft. In Conner’s absence, redshirt freshman Quadree Ollison ran for 207 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers edged out a feisty Youngstown State 45-37.
Scooby Wright Undergoes Surgery
Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright underwent a procedure to repair a lateral meniscus year, according to reports by Sports Illustrated. Wright, the national leader in tackles, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles last year, suffered the tear Thursday in the first quarter of Arizona’s 42-32 win over The University of Texas San Antonio. According to Sport Illustrated’s report Saturday, a source with knowledge of the situation said the procedure went very well and Wright would not miss more than a month at most. A preseason All-American, Wright racked up numerous preseason awards and was even considered to have an outside chance to compete for the Heisman, an honor rarely bestowed on defensive players.
Clemson WR Williams’s Neck Injuy Not Career Ending
Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams suffered a scary neck injury in the Tigers’ opener against Wofford Saturday, but according to initial reports, the injury will not end Williams’ career. Williams, Clemson’s leading receiver last year, crashed into the goalpost after reeling in a touchdown and an MRI discovered a small neck fracture. Williams is expected to fully recovery and will not require surgery. Williams has not been officially ruled out for the remainder of his junior season, but Clemson head coach Mike Swinney told reporters there is no set date for Williams to return on the field.
“The main thing to me is he is OK,” Swinney said. “He’ll have an opportunity to play again. Whenever that is, I have no idea.”
Notre Dame RB Tarean Folston To Have Surgery on ACL
Notre Dame running back Tarean Folston will have surgery for his torn ACL, ending the junior’s season. Folston, the lead back for the Fighting Irish last year, injured his right knee early in Notre Dame’s season-opening win against Texas. Folston’s injury thins an already-sparse running back position for the Fighting Irish; with backup Greg Bryant ruled academically ineligible for the season (and possibly finished with his Notre Dame football career), Notre Dame’s running game will be in the hands of redshirt junior C.J. Prosisie, a former wide receiver who converted to running back this spring, and freshman Josh Adams, who recorded two touchdowns in five carries against Texas.
BYU Heisman Contender Hill Out for the Year
BYU star quarterback and Heisman hopeful Taysom Hill’s season has come to an early end. A Lisfranc fracture in Hill’s right foot will sideline the senior for the rest of the season. Hill hurt his foot during a 21-yard rushing score in the second quarter of BYU’s thrilling come-from-behind victory over Nebraska Saturday. Hill would return to the field three plays later, where he remained until a fourth-quarter hit sent him back to the bench. Hill tallied 4,282 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2013, but suffered season-ending knee injuries in 2012 and 2014. BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said he was unsure if Hill intended to apply for a fifth year of eligibility and return next year.
“It’s a little too fast and too early right now to even think about, so I don’t know,” Mendenhall said. ” We’ll let all of this kind of calm down for a little bit and maybe have a clearer head with a different perspective. I’ll let him speak for himself on that one.”
Freshman Mangum Tanner will assume starting quarterback duties for BYU. Tanner entered the game following Hill’s injury and completed the Cougars’ comeback over Nebraska with a 42-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass with no time remaining.
UCLA DL Vanderdos Tore His ACL
UCLA defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes tore his ACL in the Bruins’ 37-16 win over Virgina Saturday and will miss the rest of the season. Vanderdose, a junior this season, was touted as one of the top linebackers in the nation this year after earning an All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection last season. Vanderdose was expected to play a star role in one of the deepest and most talented defensive fronts in the nation. The Bruins will play their first game without Vanderdose this Saturday against UNLV.
Vernon Adams Goes Back to Eastern Washington, Gets Hit Late
Vernon Adams Jr. did not receive a warm welcome from his former team. Adams, a former quarterback for Eastern Washington who transferred to Oregon as a graduate student, was knocked out of the game against his old team by a very late hit in the fourth quarter. Eastern Washington linebacker John Kreifels tackled Adams while Adams was already on his back during a slide to end an eight-yard scramble. Kreifels was ejected for the hit. Adams appeared to go limp after the hit and had several trainers help him to the locker room, but he would return to the sidelines minutes later. Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich and Adams both refused to comment on if the hit was a dirty play, but Adams told reporters he was not seriously hurt and would play in next week’s game against Michigan State. Adams threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns in Oregon’s 61-42 win.
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