No. 20 Florida will be without another top playmaker for the rest of this season.
Senior defensive tackle Dominique Easley injured his right knee during a non-contact drill in practice Tuesday and suffered a season-ending tear to his ACL and medial meniscus, coach Will Muschamp said in a statement released Wednesday night.
“Watching any of your players go through this is one of the hardest things about being a coach,” Muschamp said.
“Obviously, it is hardest on Dominique. We are disappointed for him, but we will be there for him every step of the way through his surgery and rehab process.”
Earlier Wednesday, Muschamp said Easley would undergo further tests to determine the severity of his injury. However, it became apparent the senior defensive tackle’s season would be finished when he posted on his private Twitter account (@MR_ChUcKiE_2) at 11:39 a.m.
“Gatornation [sic] thank you for all of 4 yrs of sticking with me but god has something else planned for and have no worries #believe,” Easley posted.
The senior can petition for a medical redshirt because he did not play in more than four games this season, past the sixth game of the year and can prove an actual injury.
However, after mulling the decision to go pro following his junior season, Easley could opt to enter the 2014 NFL Draft.
Sports Illustrated recently ranked the 6-foot-2, 285-pounder as the No. 15 overall prospect.
For Florida, losing Easley, who had become the team’s vocal leader during his final season, is a significant blow to the nation’s No. 2 unit.
Through three games, he had two tackles for a loss and was tied for the team lead with four quarterback hurries.
“Dominique is a guy that has a great motor — great enthusiasm as you can see on the field,” defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin said. “He plays the game the way we want guys to play on defense.”
The added attention Easley required from opposing offensive lines created opportunities for his teammates.
Buck linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week after forcing two fumbles — he recovered one — while adding a sack to help Florida suffocate the Tennessee offense during a 31-17 victory on Saturday.
Fowler later thanked Easley for opening holes for him to make plays against a talented Volunteers offensive line.
“He busts his stuff up, and I’m outside, so when they see everything clogged up, the first they’re gonna do is bounce outside, and that’s all me,” Fowler said.
Easley previously experienced a knee injury during his UF career.
He suffered an ACL tear in his left knee while playing against Florida State on Nov. 26, 2011, but returned for the start of the 2012 season, in which he started in 11 games as a junior, finishing with 8.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks and one fumble recovery.
Easley is the sixth UF player to suffer a season-ending injury this year.
Jeff Driskel (fractured right fibula), Chaz Green (torn labrum), Andre Debose (torn ACL), Matt Rolin (torn ACL) and Nick Washington (shoulder) are all done for the season.
“That’s just the game we play,” said offensive lineman Jon Halapio. “You just have to expect that people are going to get injured.”
Follow Phillip Heilman on Twitter @phillip_heilman.
Dominique Easley forces a fumble during Florida’s 31-17 victory against Tennessee on Saturday in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Easley is out for the season after suffering tears to the ACL and meniscus in his right knee.
