Adding injury to the insult of Alabama’s 52-6 destruction last Saturday, USC has announced that the program will be without starting center Toa Lobendahn for the rest of the season.
Head coach Clay Helton confirmed after the Trojans’ practice on Thursday that the junior offensive lineman tore his ACL and MCL in the opener. Lobendahn started every game as a true freshman for USC but was sidelined halfway through the 2015 campaign with a similar knee injury.Lobendahn sustained a knee injury on the second series against Alabama, but stayed in. He had surgery today. It was successful, Helton said.
— Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) September 9, 2016
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Redshirt junior Nico Falah will take over at center for USC after backing up a number of positions along the line during his career and making one start. The Trojans boasted one of the best offensive lines in the country coming into the 2016 season but looked overmatched against Alabama’s defensive front in the opener at AT&T Stadium.
The reshuffling along the offensive line as a result of the injury will be tested right away as the Trojans will play Utah State on Saturday for their home opener before beginning Pac-12 play with road trips to Stanford and Utah.