Auburn LB Blackmon ends season w/ wrist injury

From NCAA College Football Information & Resource

October 16, 2008

Auburn linebacker Tray Blackmon will have his season cut short because of a cracked bone in his right wrist sustained about a month ago.

Blackmon got hurt in the loss to LSU four weeks back but still tried to play through the injury. Unfortunately, his effectiveness on the field is reduced by the large, club-like cast on his wrist. He will be undergoing surgery next week where a screw will be inserted in his wrist.

"It didn't respond as well as we hoped," head coach Tommy Tuberville said. "It's been tough luck for him."

A junior from LaGrange, Ga., Blackmon has yet to play a complete season since arriving at Auburn in 2005. He redshirted his first year with the Tigers, was arrested for alcohol-related charges during the offseason, was suspended for half the season in 2006, took a leave of absence for personal reasons in the spring of 2007, and sat out several games in the fall because of an ankle injury.

He entered the season hyped for a breakout year but ended up sharing snaps with sophomore Josh Bynes. In six games played this year, Blackmon has started four and had 21 tackles listed across his name. Bynes, who has started in Blackmon's place, is third in the team in tackles with 31.

"(Bynes) just stepped into a starting role and hasn't looked back," Tuberville said.

Senior Courtney Harden and redshirt freshman Adam Herring are expected to fill in the back-up role in the middle.

Other Tigers with injuries are running back Ben Tate, defensive ends Antonio Coleman and Antoine Carter, and cornerback Jerraud Powers. Tate and Coleman sat out practice with hamstring injuries while Powers was able to run on the sidelines despite a hamstring injury as well. All three are expected to play at West Virginia.

Carter on the other hand is questionable against the Mountaineers as he is nursing an ankle injury.

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