Based on the events of the last couple of months, Penn State might want to consider wrapping their starting tight ends in some sort of industrial-strength bubble wrap.
Andrew Szczerba, the projected starter coming out of spring practice and into summer camp, suffered a back injury that has likely ended his season. Now, Szczerba’s replacement is likely done for the year as well.
According to the Patriot-News, Garry Gilliam suffered an injury to the ACL in his left knee in the Nittany Lions’ 24-3 loss to Iowa Saturday. If Gilliam is lost for the season as expected, he would be the second starter lost in the last week to an ACL injury, a fact that head coach Joe Paterno lamented in his postgame press conference Saturday night.
“He’s got an ACL [tear] just like [right tackle Lou] Eliades,” Paterno said. “I said to Doc [team doctor Wayne Sebastianelli], ‘Can we play one game without losing a football player for the season?’ That was a big situation, no question about it.”
The redshirt freshman, who had just one catch for 21 yards this season, will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by true freshman Kevin Haplea.
