With high-flying Clemson and its high-powered offense looming on the horizon, one of the key pieces of Florida State’s defensive secondary officially won’t step foot on the field again in 2013.
Head coach Jimbo Fisher confirmed Tuesday that safety Tyler Hunter underwent surgery Monday to repair a bulging disc in his neck. Because of the injury and surgery, Hunter’s 2013 season has ended.
Hunter suffered the injury in the blowout win over Bethune-Cookman late last month.
The decision to have Hunter undergo surgery didn’t come lightly, with Fisher stating that the school sought the opinions of several specialists before a determination was made that this was the proper medical tack for the player to take.
“You don’t ever know,” Fisher said. “When you get into the neck, until they go in there -- that’s why we sent them to the best people in the world, the top people who do the NFL stuff and see tons of them.”
In a tweet posted on his Twitter account, Hunter vowed a return in 2014.
After tying for the team lead in interceptions in 2012 as a nickel cornerback, Hunter started the first three games this year at safety. He’s been replaced in the starting lineup by true freshman Jalen Ramsey, who’s expected to continue the starting role he’s held the past two games.