NCAA FOOTBALL

UGA starting lineman suffers serious knee injury
Sturdivant could be lost for the season


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/11/08

Athens — It appears that Georgia left tackle Trinton Sturdivant may have suffered a season-ending knee injury in Monday's scrimmage at Sanford Stadium. If so, it could be a devastating blow to the Bulldogs' offense.

"I don't know for sure how bad it is but it swelled up pretty good," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "[Head trainer] Ron [Courson] went to the hospital to get the pictures."


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Asked if he thought it was a season-ender, Richt looked down at the floor of the team-meeting room.

"You always fear that," he said. " ... It makes you sick. It's just sad."

Sturdivant, a sophomore from Wadesboro, N.C., started every game at left tackle as a true freshman last season.

Left tackle is the most important of the five offensive line positions and the most difficult to play because that player is protecting the quarterback's blind side and must contain the opponent's best pass-rusher.

With Sturdivant out, redshirt sophomore Josh Davis took the snaps with No. 1 unit. Richt said the Bulldogs could also turn to left guard Vince Vance, right guards Clint Boling or Cordy Glenn, and may consider moving over Kiante Tripp from right tackle.

"I imagine we'll look at all of that," Richt said.

The injury came midway through Monday's first game-simulation scrimmage on a play Richt said was "actually outstanding football." The quarterback was getting pressure from both defensive ends and the tackles were taking their men deep. When the quarterback stepped up in the pocket, the two tackles and two ends collided behind him and Sturdivant's leg got twisted in the pile-up.

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