With just four days before the season opener against SMU, Baylor is getting bad news on the injury front. Senior defensive tackle Kaeron Johnson is done for the season because of a back injury that will require surgery, according to the Waco Tribune-Herald.
A fifth-year senior, Johnson will not seek a hardship waiver from the NCAA that would grant him a sixth year of eligibility. As a result, his playing days are over.
“It’s very unfortunate because Kaeron had a great spring and summer,” coach Art Briles said. “But he’s had those back issues that we’ve been trying to get right. Our first thought was to not play him this year and bring him back next year. But the advice he got was for him to go ahead and live a normal life.”
Johnson only started one game last season against Oklahoma, but was expected to start this year. Instead, that job should go to redshirt freshman Trevor Clemons-Valdez.