Despite sustaining a major knee injury toward the beginning of the year, Virginia Tech cornerback Antone Exum had hoped to return to the field in time for the Hokies’ season opener against Alabama.
After further review from Dr. James Andrews, that won’t happen after all. Virginia Tech head athletic trainer Mike Goforth said Monday that Exum will not play against the Crimson Tide and will more likely be close to return toward the end of September.
“Upon exam, he still feels like Antone is a little ways away, strength-wise and trusting the knee,” Goforth said via the Roanoke Times. “They recommended increasing certain exercises and re-testing in [1½ to] two months.”
ACL injuries can take anywhere from six to eight months to recover from, but Exum tore his ACL, lateral and medial meniscus while playing pickup basketball in January. That means, in theory, he could be out for up to a year. Exum and Virginia certainly hope that’s not the case, but it very well could be.
Exum was an All-ACC second-team selection in 2012, leading the team with five interceptions and the conference with 16 pass breakups. His replacements, per the Times, should be Donaldven Manning and true freshman Brandon Facyson.