Aggie cornerback Dennis out for season
The 2003 Utah State football season has been built up to be something special, especially since it is the first time the Aggies will play for a conference title in three years.
But in the last couple of weeks the team has been dealt a couple of blows that could have an impact on Saturday’s Sun Belt opener against the University of Louisiana-Monroe at Romney Stadium.
Monday, Utah State Head Coach Mick Dennehy announced that defensive captain and starting cornerback Jerome Dennis would be out for the rest of the season because of a blood clot that had developed in his right elbow.
The announcement was made a week after the Aggies found out that offensive captain Chris Cooley would be out from four to six weeks because of a broken bone in his foot.
“That’s a big loss for us,” Dennehy said about Dennis. “I’m not sure how healthy it is to be elected one of our captains at this point in time. … We’re hoping that [Dennis and Cooley] will be fine, but we can’t take too many more of these kind of hits.”
Dennehy said Dennis suffered a bruise on his arm during Utah State’s 26-16 loss at Arizona State two weeks ago. The bruise turned into a contusion and when his arm swelled up last week Dennis went to the team’s trainers for treatment.
The Van Nuys, Calif. native was given blood-thinning medication to help the swelling, but will not be able to return to the field and participate in any physical contact because it could be detrimental to his health.
Dennis is currently tied for second on the team with nine solo tackles and has forced and recovered a fumble. He has been averaging 23 yards per kickoff return.
“Everybody is pretty hurt about that, to hear that he went down for the rest of the season,” said defensive back Mark Estelle.
Dennehy will likely look to sophomores Reggie Wilson and Cornelius Lamb, as well as redshirt freshman Joe Lindsay to help in the defensive backfield.
Filling Dennis’ role as captain will be a little more difficult.
“Obviously he was very important, like Chris, to our football team in a lot of ways, not just on the field but in a leadership capacity as well,” Dennehy said. “Those younger, more inexperienced guys are going to have to step up and now it becomes their time.”
-juag@cc.usu.edu