As it turns out, one of Penn State’s most experienced offensive linemen won’t miss the entire 2014 season. Maybe.
Back in late March, it was reported Miles Dieffenbach sustained what was only described at the time as a serious knee injury during spring practice. The lineman confirmed Saturday that the serious knee injury was indeed, as rumored, a torn ACL that he incurred when he collided with a teammate.
Dieffenbach underwent surgery and is currently going through the rehab process. Because he would not be eligible to appeal for a sixth season of eligibility -- he would only have one season lost to injury -- Dieffenbach, a senior, is pushing for a return for the final month or so of the season.
“Right now I’m in a really good place,” Dieffenbach said at the annual Lift For Life event. “I haven’t had any hiccups. Everything is feeling good, my strength is good and right now I’m staying on track. Hopefully I’ll be back for the last 3-4 games.”
The Nittany Lions’ last four games of the upcoming season are, in order, Indiana, Temple, Illinois and Michigan State. The earliest of those games, the Hoosiers matchup, takes place Nov. 8, just over seven months after Dieffenbach suffered the injury. Such a timeframe would certainly be well within the realm of possibility for a return, especially for a lineman.
The past two seasons, Dieffenbach has started 23 games at both left and right guard.