Guys coming back from ACL injuries

[BGSU33]

I'm pretty sure we had four guys go down with ACL injuries last year in: Clint Stephens, Matt Domer, Bryson Denley and Jacob Bennett. Unfortunately, ACL injuries are pretty common as every team in the country seems to lose guys at some point during the preseason/season with them, some more than others in a given year. However, some guys never regain full strength, lost a step after recovery, etc. I'm really hopeful these four can bounce back at 100% as each of them could be vital to getting back to BG football.

Stephens was our best returning CB and to say we missed him last season would be a major understatement. We've been really thin at CB for several year now (the dismissal of Nick Johnson, the injury to Darrell Hunter) and a healthy Stephens in 2017 would be a huge boost to the defensive backfield. Domer showed flashes of his ability and could be primed for a breakout season next year if healthy. Denley could be the "X factor" our offense drastically needs and was missing. I've heard prior to his injury he had outstanding ability and potential as both a runner and receiver and with the loss of Ronnie Moore he could really help fill that void if healthy. Bennett was injured on a fluke play in practice from what I heard. As mentioned in another thread, he's planning to apply for a medical redshirt. Our OL returned the most combined starts in the NCAA last year but really looked out of sorts for the first 3/4 of the year. We lost several starters heading into next season and if Bennett gets the medical redshirt, and is healthy, he could really be a nice addition to add to the mix and would likely be a lock for the ever-important starting LT spot.

[Tech2000]

As for ACL/MCL injuries, I don't see the number from any team going down anytime soon due to the targeting penalty. I suspect we could see an increase.
As for your point of some not coming back look no further than Shaun suisham who retired from the Steelers this past year. An article I read from his injury last year to his non kicking knee didn't rebound the way it was to and he was unable to kick like before.
As for redshirting it is a crap shoot. One thing that Matt Johnson was told was whether his redshirt freshman year was on his/schools accord or due to injury. Matt mauk from Missouri now at Eastern Kentucky is considering a 6th year eligibility due to being injured his first year there and was redshirted but was also redshirted freshman from Missouri. Be interesting to see how that comes out and whether his first year at Missouri was due to injury or agreed upon.

[gmartin]

Bennett is done. Not getting a medical redshirt.

[MarkL]

Our secondary could badly use Stephens. The secondary was awfully thin and now loses its best player, Watson. The young guys could use a veteran to lean on as they continue to grow as a unit.

[Flipper]

Not saying we won't miss Watson because he was a good CB..but I think our best DB at the end of the year was Bozeman. Milton was making some really nice plays as well. I feel better about the secondary than I do WR. Wilcox and Guyton are signed and enrolling in January so they'll be practicing in the spring. You have two or three other and they're still making offers to 2017 WR with some size amonth before signing day. Makes you wonder if some guys are exiting the program at that spot

[gmartin]

Bozeman made some dumb penalties and blown covers the first 7 games of the year but I agree, the last 5 games I believe he and Greene were our better defenders.

[BGSU33]

Bennett is done. Not getting a medical redshirt.

SOB. That's a shame. What a sour way to end your career, getting hurt on a fluky play in the preseason on a drill like that then miss your entire senior season.

[BGSU33]

Bozeman made some dumb penalties and blown covers the first 7 games of the year but I agree, the last 5 games I believe he and Greene were our better defenders.

Yeah, Bozeman was flat out embarrassed at times early on, he looked like he was completely lost out there in the first half of the season. But he made much better strides towards the end of the year. Some of that make have been reflected by the schedule as it was extremely front loaded and very soft at the end. But he certainly showed much more promise. He went from "What the hell is he doing out there???" to "He looks pretty good" in one season.

[BGSU33]

I'm really excited to see what Denley dan do. I watched some of his highlights (yeah, I know, everyone looks good on their highlights), but he looks like he had the "it" factor before his injury. The question now is, does he still have it?

[BGSU33]

As for ACL/MCL injuries, I don't see the number from any team going down anytime soon due to the targeting penalty. I suspect we could see an increase. As for your point of some not coming back look no further than Shaun suisham who retired from the Steelers this past year. An article I read from his injury last year to his non kicking knee didn't rebound the way it was to and he was unable to kick like before.

I tore up my left knee playing basketball. It's never been quite the same since. The hardest part for me was getting back to being comfortable with lateral movements. The strength isn't 100% there either. I'm finally back to doing pretty much what I used to, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't lose a step.

[Tech2000]

Bozeman did finish 2nd on team with 71 tackles behind Trent with over 110.