USC starting tackle Chad Wheeler out for season with torn ACL
USC will be without a starting offensive lineman for the rest of the season.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian announced Sunday that redshirt sophomore Chad Wheeler, the Trojans’ left tackle, tore the ACL in his right knee in Saturday night’s loss to Utah.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Sarkisian said Wheeler’s injury occurred on the third play of the game, but he did not come out “until after seven or eight more plays.”
“He fought through it until he just couldn’t anymore,” Sarkisian said during his Sunday teleconference. “That’s the biggest thing we lose without him being out there.”
The 6-foot-7, 280-pound Wheeler started every game for the Trojans over the last two seasons. Sarkisian said senior Aundrey Walker will take over for Wheeler at left tackle Saturday at Washington State.
The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Walker has started 18 games for the Trojans in his career. Sarkisian praised Walker’s effort in relief of Wheeler against the Utes.
“I thought Aundrey did an admirable job stepping in against a really good defensive line, against a very good pass rusher in (Utah’s) Nate Orchard,” Sarkisian said. “So I think he’ll continue to improve.”
After starting 10 of the team’s first 12 games at right guard last season, Walker went down with a broken left ankle against UCLA on November 30. That injury kept Walker out of spring practice and slowed his return to the field.
Now with Wheeler going down, Walker will return to left tackle, where he made seven starts in 2012.
USC is now 5-3 after Saturday night’s loss.
For more USC news, visit TrojanSports.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
