September 11, 2007 1120 pm update
He?s done for now, but not forever.
Colorado State tight end Kory Sperry said Tuesday he is determined to come back as a fifth-year senior next fall after it was confirmed he will miss the rest of this season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
"I will continue to be a Ram and be playing next year,?? said Sperry, who suffered the injury when he was hit directly on his knee by a California tackler in the second quarter of Saturday?s 34-28 Cal victory at Hughes Stadium.
Sperry, a Pueblo County High School graduate considered by draft analysts to be an NFL tight end prospect, appeared on his way to an excellent senior year before the injury. The third-year starter was named the John Mackey national tight end of the week after catching three touchdown passes in the Rams? season-opening loss against Colorado at Invesco Field.
But when Sperry fell awkwardly following what appeared to be a clean hit on Saturday, CSU coaches and trainers expected the worst. Those fears were confirmed by the results of a magnetic resonance imaging exam performed Monday.
Sperry, a once-slender former high-school quarterback who has built his 6-foot-6 frame to a solid 260, appeared destined for conference, if not national, honors this season. But he?s confident his rehabilitation will go smoothly.
"It?s my life and the best decision I can make is to stay,?? said Sperry, who has a redshirt season remaining but could have opted to declare himself eligible for next spring?s NFL draft.
"This gives me a year to get bigger and stronger. I need to make sure I don?t leave any doubt that I can play. My mind?s made up. All of my goals are still in front of me. They have just been set back a year.??
Sperry?s absence will mean more playing time for true freshman Eric Peitz and a possible increased pass-catching role for Chris Kawulok. Kawulok, a junior from Monarch High School, is CSU?s most experienced tight end after Sperry but has been used mostly as a blocker.
He?s done for now, but not forever.
Colorado State tight end Kory Sperry said Tuesday he is determined to come back as a fifth-year senior next fall after it was confirmed he will miss the rest of this season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
"I will continue to be a Ram and be playing next year,?? said Sperry, who suffered the injury when he was hit directly on his knee by a California tackler in the second quarter of Saturday?s 34-28 Cal victory at Hughes Stadium.
Sperry, a Pueblo County High School graduate considered by draft analysts to be an NFL tight end prospect, appeared on his way to an excellent senior year before the injury. The third-year starter was named the John Mackey national tight end of the week after catching three touchdown passes in the Rams? season-opening loss against Colorado at Invesco Field.
But when Sperry fell awkwardly following what appeared to be a clean hit on Saturday, CSU coaches and trainers expected the worst. Those fears were confirmed by the results of a magnetic resonance imaging exam performed Monday.
Sperry, a once-slender former high-school quarterback who has built his 6-foot-6 frame to a solid 260, appeared destined for conference, if not national, honors this season. But he?s confident his rehabilitation will go smoothly.
"It?s my life and the best decision I can make is to stay,?? said Sperry, who has a redshirt season remaining but could have opted to declare himself eligible for next spring?s NFL draft.
"This gives me a year to get bigger and stronger. I need to make sure I don?t leave any doubt that I can play. My mind?s made up. All of my goals are still in front of me. They have just been set back a year.??
Sperry?s absence will mean more playing time for true freshman Eric Peitz and a possible increased pass-catching role for Chris Kawulok. Kawulok, a junior from Monarch High School, is CSU?s most experienced tight end after Sperry but has been used mostly as a blocker.
