During Virginia Tech’s upset loss to Div. 1-AA James Madison the second weekend of the 2010 season, the Hokies lost then-starting defensive tackle Kwamaine Battle to a season-ending knee injury.
This year, unfortunately, Battle won’t even make it to the opener thanks to a similar injury.
According to Tech’s head athletic trainer Mike Gorforth, the redshirt senior has suffered what is apparently a torn ACL in his left leg and will miss the entire 2011 season. Battle was injured during the Hokies’ scrimmage Saturday, the first of this summer camp, and could go under the knife yet again in the near future.
“Surgical options are being evaluated at this time,” the school said in a statement. “Because it’s the same injury that caused him to miss most of last year, he would be eligible to appeal for a sixth season of eligibility, should he choose.”
In addition to the knee issue last year, Battle missed his true freshman season with a shoulder injury and took a redshirt.
In between the myriad injuries, Battle has played in 19 games during his time in Blacksburg, including two starts. Both of those starts came last season.