When Florida State wide receiver Taiwan Easterling ruptured his Achilles tendon during a conditioning drill in the middle of February, it was thought there was a very real chance that he could miss at least the early portion of the 2009 season.
A little over four months after undergoing surgery to repair the damage, however, the receiver is forcing the coaching staff to sing a different -- and much more pleasant -- tune.
For the first time during the course of his rehab, Easterling participated in a workout. Fully participated in a workout at that.
That fact left FSU strength & conditioning coach Todd Stroud seemingly picking his jaw off the floor.
“This was his first week back,” Stroud said according to the Tallahassee Democrat. “He’s about a week ahead of schedule right now. They wanted to turn him loose after the Fourth of July week and Randy (Oravetz, FSU’s Director of Sports Medicine) turned him loose today for the first time. And it was like he was never injured. I mean it was amazing.
“He went through a full battery of agilities today which is amazing. It includes lateral movement, crossing over, straight-line speed stuff and lot of stopping and starting. Good change of direction. It really didn’t give him any issues today. Just amazing.”
Stroud added that the recovering receiver “got a little sore at the end” of the workout, but that development was expected.
Easterling’s rapid recovery couldn’t come at a better time or at a better position.
The WR unit has suffered a serious hit to their depth thanks to a combination of off-the-field issues, attrition and, in the case of Corey Surrency, a failed NCAA appeal for an extra year of eligibility.In other words, the ‘Noles need Easterling to continue his “amazing” recovery and suffer no setbacks between now and September.
