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
schmeckdawg
April 11th, 2011
12:09 pm
This is terrible for TS as he came back this year to improve his chances on getting to the NFL. Unfortunately, these kids are so big and with all of the weight and pressure that is already there and the fact that the knee only bends one way naturally it’s no wonder why so many of these injuries occur. I mean if you happen to be standing around a pile up and some rolls into your leg or your cleat gets stuck in the grass/turf, it doesn’t take much to tear it up. And before I get any wise cracks, no I am not a Doctor, but, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Good luck Trinton!!!!!
gdawginkalamazoo
April 11th, 2011
12:09 pm
Good luck young man and thanks for being a damn good dawg!
Preston
April 11th, 2011
12:18 pm
Wow….what a bad deal. This guy sure has been through a lot. Hope he keeps his chin up and gets another year of eligibility. A healthy Sturdivant is a NFL starter.
dang
April 11th, 2011
12:23 pm
He should have left this year. I hate it for him.
tide roll
April 11th, 2011
12:27 pm
I know hindsight is 20/20, bur I think it was reasonable to anticipate that this could happen to Sturdivant. Now, Georgia fans are suggesting Benedict to tackle. His Knee injury includes nerve damage.Ignoring these realities, Georgia goes out and signs the 9th rated offensive line class in the Conference. Zach “Patti” Dabell is ranked 98th on the Orlando Sentinel post season top 100 for Central Florida, just ahead of a kid going to Bethune-Cookman. It’s easy to see the Richt/Bobo influence in all of this. Sign the Danzlers and Labells of the world, have Coach “T” beef ‘em up and go dominate. Now I know why they call it the Dream Team. It’s because Uga is “Dreamin”. Roll tide!
AltamahaDawg
April 11th, 2011
12:28 pm
This is why…… how many 0-linemen would you say they need to go into the fall camp with every year?
Florida Evans
April 11th, 2011
12:52 pm
D*mn, D*mn, D*MN!!!!!
bulldawgbill
April 11th, 2011
1:25 pm
Good luck on the rehab. You are a tough man and can do it again. I wish we had more STUDENT athletes like you at UGA. You make us proud.
Go Big Dawg!
GADAWG88
April 11th, 2011
1:34 pm
He already used his normal redshirt for one of those injured years, is there any way the he can get a medical redshirt now and play for us next year? some players can stay around for 6 years that way. Didn’t Jason White at Oklahoma get a reg. redshirt and a med. redshirt? He had bad knees also.
how2fish
April 11th, 2011
2:03 pm
TS so sorry to hear this, keep the faith young man you are a DGD and the Bull Dog Nation thanks you for all you have given to the program!
Tallcarl
April 11th, 2011
2:20 pm
Trinton, Good look with the recovery and I hope and pray for you to achieve whatever God had planed for you I am proud to call you a D.G. Dog and know you family is very proud of your accomplishments what ever the future holds. Keep your head up and your spirit will follow. You are love by all the TRUE Georgia Bulldog fans. Carl
huntgadog
April 11th, 2011
2:24 pm
hey roughrider don’t degrade the streets of atlanta like that. she can’t work here.
AltamahaDawg
April 11th, 2011
3:33 pm
Even if he could get an additional (college)year, why would he do that at this point?
Timothy
April 11th, 2011
5:00 pm
I think I’ve fallen in love with Delta Stewardess. I love the way she says it like it is!
This spud's for you
April 11th, 2011
5:03 pm
At least Sturdivant won’t be around to have his head handed to him by Boise State.
Delta Stewardess
April 11th, 2011
5:14 pm
Timothy
I hope you are just being nice. I have the feeling you are no Dawg fan and trying to STIR-the-POT again. I do care very much about Trinton and his future. WE only hear about Football Players and Basketball players after their time at UGA. I want him to be SAFE, BLESSED, and HAPPY. I don’t want him hurt more for a GAME. People were hard on me and that is fine. I have been in many more difficult situations than a sports blog. If you are being real then thank you. If you are a DAWG HATER then I accept you comments and fear you just are mad at My College. I do not hide my happiness or disdain for MY DAWGS. If the POLITICAL BLOGS were as full of this PASSION then maybe our country would be in better shape no matter your party affiliation. TIM’s Weekend WRAP-UP of the weekends sporting event was a Great and happy welcome.
Ed (The Original)
April 11th, 2011
6:49 pm
That’s a tough break, he seems like a decent kid. I hope he uses this time to get his college degree and to plan a career other than football. His body has decided that he’s had enough football, hopefully he will listen to it.
GR82BAG8R
April 11th, 2011
8:02 pm
This is a real shame and tough break. If it turns out he never realizes his dream to play in the NFL, hopefully he can use his college degree and athletic knowledge to one day become coach and eventually athletic director somewhere. As rivals we needle and pick at each other, but there are times to put all that aside and wish the best for those that make all this possible – - the players.
JDAWG
April 11th, 2011
10:26 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/04/11/bulldogs-lose-trinton-sturdivant-for-the-year/
davidinloganville
April 11th, 2011
10:29 pm
lets hope that he can have as important a career as a stewardess… or as the Delta version is know as the ”
Waffle House waitresses in the sky”
RED DOG 77
April 12th, 2011
2:05 am
God Bless you Trinton, and thanks for all the great memories as a big bad DAWG. Remember whatever happens, if you play again or not, you can always finish that education. You seem to be a fine young man who has shown us courage during your first two rehabs…….you will do well in life applying the same determination………..One final note, out of high school, I was recruited to play football at Georgia, before I could get on the field I sustained a football ending back injury. I turned out ok with a great education and a great business of my own………You Trinton, can certainly do the same……………Warmest Best Regards, RED