We take a look at key injuries across the country for Week 1 to see who landed on the college football injury report.
College football is in full swing and every school in the country has one big goal in fall camp: get through it healthy. Unfortunately for some teams, the injury bug has already taken a bite heading into week one. A Big Ten school has suffered a significant injury at receiver and a team that made the National Championship last season is uncertain about their quarterback, just to name a few injuries around the country.
Here is a look at some key players who will and may miss playing this week.
Quarterbacks
Jake Fromm, Georgia
Jake Fromm suffered a broken bone in his non-throwing hand during July this offseason. He is probable for Saturday’s game against Austin Peavy and has been wearing a hand brace during practice. For a team set to compete for an SEC title and possibly another appearance in the College Football Playoff, the Bulldogs need Fromm fully healthy to compete once again. He’s going to be fine.
Tanner Mangum, BYU
Mangum suffered a serious Achilles injury last season against East Carolina. He is expected to be the Cougars’ starting quarterback this season, but whether his injury has fully healed remains to be seen. He is probable for Saturday night’s road game against Arizona.
Jake Luton, Oregon State
Luton has been named Oregon State’s starting quarterback against Ohio State but is coming off a career-threatening thoracic spine fracture. He was limited to four games last season as the Beavers finished last in the Pac-12. Fortunately, Luton is expected to be a full go for this week and hopefully the rest of the season.
Running Backs
Najee Harris, Alabama
Harris has been limited in practice while dealing with a foot injury. Fortunately, the back has been able to participate in more position drills this week and should be ready for the opener against Louisville. With Alabama looking for another National Championship, having Harris at full strength is paramount.
Malik Davis, Florida
Davis is continuing to recover from a serious knee injury he suffered early during his standout freshman season. During preseason camp he has been wearing a brace but has still participated in practice. Head coach Dan Mullen said he should be good to go for this Saturday against Charleston Southern. Davis is also competing with Jordan Scarlett for carries this season.
Zamir White, Georgia
White suffered a torn ACL during a scrimmage in July and is expected to miss this season. He is one of Georgia’s top recruits for the 2018 class and was expected to compete for carries this season. With Nick Chubb and Sony Michel now in the NFL, the Bulldogs are looking for replacements for their backfield. The loss of White could certainly impact Georgia’s running back depth.
Colin Wilson, Louisville
Wilson suffered a torn ACL last season, but has been practicing and should be ready for Saturday’s game against Alabama. Wilson and sophomore Dae Williams are expected to be a solid running back duo in the ACC and having both healthy facing a talented Crimson Tide defense bodes well for the Cardinals.
Wide Receivers
Tarik Black, Michigan
Black suffered another serious foot injury during practice this week and some believe it is a broken foot. The injury will likely keep Black on the sideline for the first half, if not all of the season. He was regarded as one of the Wolverines’ top weapons on offense and an injury of this magnitude is devastating for their receiving corp.
A.J. Brown, Ole Miss
Brown has been limited in practice this week with a hamstring injury. As one of the top receivers in the SEC, the Rebels are hopeful Brown will be ready to go on Saturday when they face Texas Tech. He led the conference in receiving yard and touchdowns last year.
John Burt, Texas
Burt has been ruled out for the Longhorn’s first game against Maryland. The receiver has been dealing with a foot injury all camp but was expected to still play in the opener. Burt is one of Texas’ most experienced receivers, so losing him for this game could hurt the Longhorn’s passing attack with Sam Ehlinger as the starter.
Eli Stove, Auburn
Stove suffered a torn ACL during spring practice and will miss the opener against Washington, if not more games this season. The receiver was expected to be a top weapon for quarterback Jarrett Stidham this year. This injury definitely impacts Auburn’s passing game heading into week one.
Will Hastings, Auburn
Like his fellow wideout Stove, Hastings is also continuing to recover from a torn ACL he suffered in spring practice. Both have not been cleared for contact, but have participated in 7-on-7 drills during practice. As with Stove, Hastings will miss the game against Washington and likely several more.
Tight Ends
Michael Irvin II, Miami
Irvin will miss Sunday’s game against LSU and more games. He suffered an MCL injury in his right knee during early August and is expected to be out for four months. The son of Hurricane legend Michael Irvin is expected to be one of the team’s best pass catchers for 2018.
Hunter Bryant, Washington
Bryant is recovering from knee surgery after an injury he suffered last season against UCLA. As one of the top players at his position in the country, not having Bryant available could certainly impact the Huskies’ passing attack facing a great Auburn defense. Rumors have also begun to swirl he could miss all of 2018.
Zander Neuville, Wisconsin
Neuville has been ruled out for Wisconsin’s opener against Western Kentucky. The tight end has been dealing with a right hamstring injury during practice. Neuville is one of the Badgers’ top offensive weapons and is coming off an ACL injury he sustained late last season.
Defensive Stars
Terrell Lewis, LB, Alabama
One of Alabama’s top linebackers going into 2018, Lewis suffered a torn ACL in July. He has been ruled out for the season, providing a blow to the Crimson Tide defense. The defense will have to find out early against Virginia Tech who will be capable of filling his role this season.
Chris Allen, LB, Alabama
As if having one Alabama linebacker out for the season was not enough, Allen suffered a knee injury in the middle of August and will likely to miss the season. With Lewis out as well, the team’s young outside linebackers will be tested early. Nick Saban will be looking for young talent to fill their shoes with the team already thin at inside linebacker.
Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU
TCU lost one of their best defenders early in fall camp. 329-pound defensive tackle Ross Blacklock suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during non-contact drills in mid-August. The sophomore was named Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year last season and was expected to be the Horned Frogs’ best lineman going into 2018. For a team that lost a good amount of defensive talent, Gary Patterson will need to look for other options on the defensive line this season.
Ayodele Adeoye, LB, Texas
Adeoye has been ruled out for Saturday’s game against Maryland with a knee injury. The freshman linebacker suffered the injury during a scrimmage and is expected to contribute heavily this season. Adeoye was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and his absence will leave the Longhorns even thinner on defense for the season opener.