UGA’s Sturdivant tears ACL in right knee
For the third time in his college football career, Georgia offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant has suffered a major knee injury.
Sturdivant
Sturdivant, who twice previously tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, sustained the same injury to his right knee during Saturday’s closed scrimmage in Sanford Stadium, UGA said Sunday after diagnostic tests.
Sturdivant will undergo surgery to repair the ACL “sometime this week” and is expected to conduct his rehabilitation at UGA, according to assistant athletic director for sports medicine Ron Courson.
Sturdivant would be a fifth-year senior in the fall, and Georgia did not say if the latest injury will cost him the season or end his college football career, deferring those topics until after the surgery.
However, based on the rehabilitation time required from his two previous knee surgeries, a return in the 2011 season would be unlikely. According to mayoclinic.com, athletes who successfully rehab from ACL surgery “often can return to their sports after six to 12 months.”
If Sturdivant misses the 2011 season, he conceivably could petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility to play in 2012. Student-athletes who miss two or more seasons because of injury sometimes are allowed a sixth year.
Sturdivant was a freshman All-American in 2007, when he started all 13 games for the Bulldogs at left tackle, but he missed the entire 2008 season after tearing the ACL and two other ligaments in his left knee during a preseason scrimmage. He returned to start the opening game of the 2009 season but again tore the left ACL in that game and missed the remainder of the season. He fought back to play last season, appearing in 12 games and starting seven at left tackle.
Sturdivant considered entering the NFL draft this year but “came to the conclusion it’d be best for me to stay here,” he said in a January interview. One reason, he said at the time, was “to make the GMs in the NFL feel more comfortable about drafting someone with two ACL [surgeries].”
Sturdivant and converted guard Cordy Glenn had been alternating between left and right tackles during spring practice. Other options at tackle include A.J. Harmon, Austin Long, Kolton Houston and Brent Benedict. Or another player, perhaps Kenarious Gates or Justin Anderson, could be shifted from guard.
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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271 comments Add your comment
UGA '05
April 10th, 2011
9:56 pm
yes i am. i hope to transfer to UGA
hind tit
April 10th, 2011
9:56 pm
This is the type injury that you will see more of as time goes on. The weight that these kids try to carry is more than their joints can handle. Thirty years ago 250 to 260 was the norm for a lineman on both sides of the ball now 75 to 100 pounds more on the same joint. This is something that could have happened in a pre- draft tryout. Get your education first then worry about pro football.
Delta Stewardess
April 10th, 2011
9:57 pm
good luck 05.
Here come the injuries again...
April 10th, 2011
9:58 pm
UGA program always has a rash of injuries to key players, albeit this is TS’s 3rd knee injury. This kid has the biggest heart of any player I’ve seen at UGA in quite some time. I really feel for him. I’m praying for him.
Michael
April 10th, 2011
9:58 pm
I’ll hire him at my law firm when he’s ready.
Louie Kablooie
April 10th, 2011
9:59 pm
Im gonna try to see a few games this year. Wasnt able to last year because of the economy. hope the dawgs play better. Like to see the renovations at Reed alley and Stegman.
Delta Stewardess
April 10th, 2011
9:59 pm
Michael
What job will you give him?
Tech is Rennie's B!TC#
April 10th, 2011
10:00 pm
I feel so bad for him, such a great athlete. He had a 4.1 in High School and was class president. Hopefully he’s greatly applied himself in the class room. Good Luck Trinton. Dang Good Dog
UGA '05
April 10th, 2011
10:00 pm
thank you delta stewardess
Gotta Go
April 10th, 2011
10:01 pm
Hey Delta! Let’s see who is standing taller in 12 months. Trinton or those stupid oak trees?
Louie Kablooie
April 10th, 2011
10:01 pm
good luck 05.
UGA '05
April 10th, 2011
10:03 pm
thank you louie kablooie
Gotta Go
April 10th, 2011
10:04 pm
Hey Delta
Who has a brighter future? Trinton or those stupid oak trees at Auburn?
WidgetCpt
April 10th, 2011
10:06 pm
DeltaStewHostitute, I hope you’re never on one of my aircaft. You seem to be a disturbed woman. Do you really think UGA is the only school that uses up the athletes and tosses them aside? Do you think the diploma that is there for the taking is of no value? Have you not seen the Rankin Smith Center at UGA? It’s full of tutors, computers and everything else an athlete needs to succeed academically. All they need do is go in the doors and the information is fed to them.
Article in the Athens paper last week about Erik Ainge, the UT quarterback, left Tenn as a drug/alcohol addict and is now living with his uncle trying to stay clean and sober. All colleges ‘use’ their athletes to further the ol school colors athletically. In return for that, the kids get a crack at a degree that most would never have.
Athdog
April 10th, 2011
10:07 pm
WidgCpt,
Nicely said.
Delta Stewardess
April 10th, 2011
10:08 pm
Gotta Go
probably those trees. I am sure they will be used as Fire Wood and Burn real Bright.
Gerry
April 10th, 2011
10:10 pm
feel for the guy. seemed like a nice dude when i met him! praying for a speedy recovery and future success
Delta Stewardess
April 10th, 2011
10:11 pm
WidgCpt
I don’t worry what other colleges do. I care how UGA conducts it’s business not UT or Auburn, or Florida.
Frankly
April 10th, 2011
10:17 pm
Thank you Trinton, get your degree and best of luck in the future. I am so sorry about the injury, hope you completely recover.
SE GA FAN
April 10th, 2011
10:21 pm
I’m a 63 year old female and had MCL surgery two months ago and am doing well. The day following surgery I was using crutches but had to go to rehab for conditioning exercises. The next day it was one crutch for the morning and nothing after that. I was back at subbing five days after surgery. Rehab continued for two weeks, so if I can do it, I know UGA players can!!
NorCal Dawg
April 10th, 2011
10:22 pm
To clarify, Trinton is pursuing a double major of Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Management. Those are two of the most competitive programs in the Terry College of Business and consistently place their graduates in top tier jobs. If football does not work out for him (which I hope it does), I have no doubt Trinton will go on to a very successful career in the private sector.
I feel absolutely horrible for Trinton and wish him the best of luck in recovering. What matters not is not about UGA football, but rather a young man taking the next step in life. He will do great.
Viking87
April 10th, 2011
10:28 pm
So sorry for this young man. He could have had a great career holding down the left side.
BG
April 10th, 2011
10:30 pm
Sad news! I hope Trinton can acome back and play in 2012.
Outside Observer
April 10th, 2011
10:33 pm
Gotta Go… wow. Just wow. I was interested in seeing all the hatred towards DS, but then I read your comment, and… wow. Laughing at the death of an historic school tradition would be like laughing at the death of an UGA, or the burning down of the hedges. Come on dude, gain some class.
UGASlobberknocker
April 10th, 2011
10:42 pm
Some people just dont have the body for football..and TS is obviously one of those people. I wish him the best of luck in the future, but as far as a potential 6th yr , I hope that we dont waste a scholly on him for a 6th yr that will prob end the same way.
Sam
April 10th, 2011
10:44 pm
crap
GT
April 10th, 2011
10:51 pm
Remember 45-43 hahaha
Dawgs88
April 10th, 2011
10:59 pm
I hate to see this happen. But when you’re as overweight as he is what do you expect? Your knees weren’t designed to carry 300+ pounds. And no offense, he wasn’t a very good line man if you ask me anyway. Didn’t want to see him get hurt but still.
UGASlobberknocker
April 10th, 2011
11:02 pm
I find myself wondering if all of the injuries during this “rough” spring practice are just another indicator of how soft the Dawgs had become. I suspect our practices are no tougher than other schools, but with the exception of Fla’s OL, nobody else is dropping like flies like we are, I hope this toughens us up for this fall.
Better Dawgs!
April 10th, 2011
11:02 pm
DGD! This will be a big whole to fill. O-Line will dedicate this season to TS and they will be as mean as a oxviperlionrocket!
Delta Stewardess
April 10th, 2011
11:07 pm
that man was living his dream and no knee injury was going to take that from him.
But an injury did take his dream. He will not play in the NFL and make millions. Now he will have to make good money to take care of his damaged body. His body has experienced as much pain and surgery as an NFL player just not the pay to last his lifetime. I hope when he is 35 he can walk and get around on his own legs. He will have to really change his diet and control his weight. He needs to start that reprogramming of his body right now.
GOODBYE
April 10th, 2011
11:08 pm
first of all stretching has nothing to do with this type of injury. please explain how you can stretch a stabilizing ligament inside of your knee. goodbye sturdivant, o-line performance, 2011 season, and so i suppose coach richt.
SE GA FAN
April 10th, 2011
11:10 pm
your mcl and acl arent the same thing at all. im pretty sure you couldnt do it
Beast from the East
April 10th, 2011
11:10 pm
That’s terrible news. You hate to see these kids that are great student-athletes but snake-bit with injuries while you have idiots like Garcia that continue to waste every “second” chance they get.
Best of luck, Trinton.
Go Gators!
hey delta stewardess
April 10th, 2011
11:19 pm
tearing your acl doesnt make you a cripple. they fix it and you are pretty much fine except for sports. now as far as your knees are concerned, don’t forget to pad them up before a long shift.
Pope UGA XXIII
April 10th, 2011
11:28 pm
Everything I have heard about this young man is that he is a
quality person. I wouldn’t bet on him playing again and that’s a
real shame. Hope your surgery goes well for you, Big Man !
51WTGW50
April 10th, 2011
11:29 pm
Wow
Dbalcer
April 10th, 2011
11:29 pm
Praying he gets better. I can’t imagine how horrible this feels.
51WTGW50
April 10th, 2011
11:31 pm
He has the great memories of the 6-7 season. Maybe the coach not trusting him and the rest of the O-line to go for it on 4th & 1 will be a great memory. That play against UCF in the bowl loss should last a lifetime.
maddawg
April 10th, 2011
11:39 pm
Delta Stewardess,
Athletes get 4 years of education paid for in exchange for playing football. How in the hell is that being used???? Just because you are educated does not mean you are not an idiot!!!!!!!!!! I’m betting you also are one of those who hate the USA even though youj would be killed in another country for expressing the same views about them. you and your kind make me vomit!!!!!!!!!!
McDonoughGator
April 10th, 2011
11:41 pm
This is awful. I pray for this young man,that he can find success in another field. This kid is a warrior.
sports
April 10th, 2011
11:43 pm
“techie” tucker finally found some bad news from UGA.
51WTGW50
April 10th, 2011
11:47 pm
Maddawg
I know I have read you post on here before that Players should be played while in college. I know you said that when the A J Green got in trouble for selling his jersey.
51WTGW50
April 10th, 2011
11:48 pm
sorry PAID. You are picking on Delta Stew? LOL you think players deserve more than just a degree.
maddawg
April 10th, 2011
11:52 pm
51WTGW50
Not me…..There is a different maddawg posting on here. I have used this name for years but I rarely post. I’ll change my name going forward to maddawg913.
maddawg
April 10th, 2011
11:57 pm
I think the degree is plenty of payment but I am mixed on the fact that they are not allowed to work when some of these kid’s parents can’t afford to send them money. I realize the problem with the boosters giving gravy jobs but we sometimes pick up the elephant gun to shoot the fly!!
maddawg913
April 10th, 2011
11:59 pm
forgot to change my name.
LOL
April 11th, 2011
12:32 am
Jesus crist we get some lemons in Georgia…
BigGAdawg
April 11th, 2011
12:34 am
As Royal Marshall would have said, “Just Damn.” Really sorry to hear this.
RxDawg
April 11th, 2011
1:13 am
OMG…. I don’t care what the doc’s say, I’d have to give it up after 3 torn knees. WTF!?