Michigan State Spartans DT Damon Knox out indefinitely following surgery

Michigan State has one of the most feared defenses in college football, and part of the reason for that was supposed to be defensive tackle Damon Knox. However, head coach Mark Dantonio revealed Knox will be out indefinitely following “some surgery.”

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“Damon Knox right now has got some surgery, so he’ll be out for a little bit of time,” Dantonio said at his season-opening press conference, via MLive.com. “But it is what it is, so we’ve got to deal with that. So we’ll have to see about injuries.”

Knox, a junior, was expected to step in to a starters role this season. However, the severity of the injury or what surgery or the length of absence were all things Dantonio was mum on at his press conference on Friday.

Last season, Knox had 22 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack as a backup defensive tackle. He did appear in all 14 games for the Spartans en route to a Big Ten and Rose Bowl championship season.

Senior James Kittredge was listed behind Knox on the preseason depth chart, with Lawrence Thomas listed as a defensive end/tackle alongside Knox on the first line defense. However, it remains to be seen how Knox’s injury affects Dantonio’s plans leading up to the season opener against FCS opponent Jacksonville State on Aug. 29.

The good news is that no matter the severity, the Spartans defense is loaded with plenty of talent around him and absorbing a loss like this shouldn’t be too difficult.

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