Defensive tackle Nick Craig had knee surgery Thursday and will be the third starter on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's defensive line to miss spring practice.
The only healthy starter is defensive tackle Nick Davison. Spring practice begins Feb. 25.
"We've got two deep," Mocs coach Russ Huesman said, meaning two healthy players at each of the four defensive line positions. "That's all we need [to practice] -- two deep -- and that's what we've got."
Craig, a 6-foot-2, 295-pound rising senior, will be out at least 10 weeks but is expected to be ready for preseason practice. He made 38 tackles last season.
The other starters out are defensive ends Chris Donald (wrists) and Josh Williams (shoulder). Backup defensive tackle Jesse LoScudo (shoulder) also will miss spring drills.
Freshman offensive lineman Shaun Hill, who enrolled in January, had shoulder surgery last week to fix a torn labrum. He will miss spring practice, as will freshman quarterback Terrell Robinson (wrist).
"This is what happens in the spring," Huesman said. "You get some kids banged up [during the season] and have surgeries."
Backup safety Briant Henry, who played in 10 games last season, mostly on special teams, did not return to school for the spring semester. Huesman said it was a mutual decision.
Backup wide receiver Jarrett Burns will not participate in spring practice, Huesman said, so he can focus on academics.
John Frierson is in his fifth year at the Times Free Press and fifth year covering University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletics. The bulk of his time is spent covering Mocs football, but he also writes about women’s basketball and the big-picture issues and news involving the athletic department. A native of Athens, Ga., John grew up a few hundred yards from the University of Georgia campus. Instead of becoming a Bulldog he attended Ole ...
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