Georgia State’s injury woes continued to pile up when it was revealed Monday that one starter, and possibly two, are out for the rest of the season.
Starting left tackle Michael Ivory is definitely out for the season and outside linebacker Mackendy Cheridor is likely out for the remainder of the season, coach Trent Miles said.
Ivory, a redshirt sophomore, is scheduled to have lisfranc surgery on his right foot this week. Lisfranc is the point at which the metatarsal and tarsal bones connect. The injury occurred in the loss two weeks ago at Louisiana-Lafayette. Ivory didn’t play in last week’s 52-10 loss to Arkansas State. Ivory, 6-5, 340 pounds, joined Georgia State (1-5, 0-3) this season after a season at Coffeyville Community College.
Cheridor, a sophomore, is scheduled to have another surgery on his knee on Monday. After suffering an MCL injury against Washington, the coaches thought Cheridor could return in time for this week’s game at South Alabama. But Cheridor’s knee hasn’t progressed as quickly as hoped. Cheridor could return in a few weeks. If he doesn’t, coach Trent Miles said they will apply for a redshirt. He had 13 tackles and one sack this season.
Freshman Robert Traylor, one of the players who filled in for Cheridor, may miss this week’s game because he is showing symptoms of a concussion. He had four tackles and recovered a fumble against the Red Wolves
The running backs continue to suffer. Running back Duvall Smith is likely out for this week with a shoulder injury. Marcus Caffey, who played sparingly in last week’s loss because of an injury, may return this week but Miles didn’t sound sure. The group was already without Kyler Neal and Jonathan Jean-Bart, who both suffered season-ending injuries in the loss at Washington, and Krysten Hammon, who left the program. Dontavis Crocker started last week’s game.
Kick off set: Georgia State and Georgia Southern will kick off at 2 p.m. and the game will be broadcast by ESPN3. The Sun Belt Conference announced the time on Monday.
It will be the first meeting in football between the teams. The game will be played at the Georgia Dome.
The Panthers are 1-5, 0-3 in the Sun Belt this season. Georgia Southern is 5-2, 4-0.
Watch list: Tight end Joel Ruiz was selected to the 2014 John Mackey Award midseason watch list on Monday. The award is given annually to the best tight end in college. The winner will be announced on Dec. 10.
Ruiz is second in the nation among tight ends with 66.2 receiving yards per game and third in receptions (4.8 per game).
Ruiz, a junior, is the team’s fourth-leading receiver with 24 catches.
Ruiz is the first Georgia State player to be recognized on a watch list for one of the major FBS awards.
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