DeShaun Foster reveals three torn ACLs during spring practice
DeShaun Foster‘s first spring practice as the head coach at UCLA unfortunately had a dark cloud looming over it after three players suffered torn ACL knee injuries in the span of two practices last week.
Following Tuesday’s practice Foster opened up about his injured players, showing some vulnerability after three of his guys went down with devastating non-contact injuries early in the offseason.
“Hudson Habermehl tore his ACL, Donavyn [Pellot] tore his ACL, Troy Leigber also tore his ACL. So it was three guys, unfortunate injuries, that’s why I was a little down,” Foster admitted.
“It’s very unfortunate, it’s just part of the game,” Foster said. “Football’s a very violent sport and your body takes a toll. ACLs are something that you can come back from, so I’m looking forward to these guys coming back and being 100 percent once they get back.”
Habermehl was entering his sixth-season for the Bruins as a veteran tight end who’s caught 24 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns in the past two seasons for UCLA. As he’ll look to bounce back from injury and play in his final season in Los Angeles.
Pellot and Leigber are both second year players for the Bruins looking to make a bigger impact this upcoming season. With Pellot recording three tackles and a sack last season in his five game appearances as a true freshman and Leigber receiving one carry for nine yards after walking on to UCLA last year.
Foster added that his injured players are in good spirits as their road to recovery begins. Also noting that his team has picked up the slack and impressed in their absence during recent practices.
“But they’re positive, we’re just trending in the right direction to get them back after their surgery, start the rehab and everything,” Foster said. “But I was really excited at the way the defense flew around today. Offensively a couple guys stepped up for some of those guys were injured. So it was just positive to see guys actually take some accountability and do a little bit more.”
Both coaches and players alike come to terms with the existence of injuries in the game of football, but that doesn’t make them any easier to come to terms with when they do arise.
Foster and the Bruins will keep pushing forward this spring with seven practices still ahead of them and their spring showcase kicking off on April 27.