Utah and Oregon lose senior starters to season-ending injuries
Utah and Oregon both lost prominent players to season-ending injuries on Saturday.
The Utes announced Monday that center J.J. Dielman suffered a “lower leg injury” in Saturday’s loss at Cal and will be out the rest of the season. Dielman, a senior, was injured during the first quarter. The injury presumably ends his collegiate career.
Dielman was a second-team All-Pac 12 selection for the Utes in 2015 and has started every game for the team over the last three seasons. Dielman was the team’s right tackle in 2014 and 2015 but shifted to center after projected starter Hiva Lutui went down with a career-ending knee injury.
According to the program, Dielman has not allowed a sack this season. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Dielman played in one game in 2013 after redshirting in 2012. He is the fourth senior starter to go down with a season-ending injury for the Utes, joining Lutui, tight end Siale Fakailoatonga and defensive end Kylie Fitts.
The Utes (4-1) dropped to No. 24 in the AP Poll after losing 28-23 to Cal on a last-second goal line stand.
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Elsewhere, The Register-Guard is reporting that Oregon linebacker Johnny Ragin is done for the year because of a “serious leg injury.” Ragin, Oregon’s leading tackler, was injured during the Ducks’ 51-33 loss at Washington State.
Ragin, a senior, had 29 tackles in four games this season. Before he was carted off during the third quarter Saturday night, Ragin had eight tackles.
Before this season, Ragin combined for 33 tackles in 26 games in 2014 and 2015. Ragin began his career at Cal and appeared in eight games as a true freshman in 2013.
The Ducks have struggled mightily on defense this year under first-year defensive coordinator Brady Hoke. Hoke, the former Michigan coach, has changed the team from a 4-3 to a 3-4 style defense. Through five games, Oregon is allowing 36.2 points (109th nationally) and 490.4 yards per game (116th).
After dropping to 2-3 with the loss to WSU, Oregon welcomes No. 5 Washington to Autzen Stadium on Saturday. The Ducks have defeated the Huskies 12 straight times, dating back to 2004.
For more Utah news, visit Utezone.com.
For more Oregon news, visit DuckSportsAuthority.com.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
