With Maryland coming off their bye week before opening Big Ten play, head coach Mike Locksley had some unfortunate news to share about one of his running backs. Jake Funk has been lost for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL injury suffered in Maryland’s last game.
Locksley announced Funk suffered the injury during Maryland’s loss to Temple two weeks ago. It was reported it is the same torn knee Funk had last season.
Funk had been playing a role on special teams this season for Maryland, in addition to filling time as a running back. With Funk no longer in the mix, Locksley noted Lorenzo Harrison could get some more meaningful playing time in place of the injured Terrapin.
Locksley called that injury a big blow to the team because of what he does in the offense and on special teams. He anticipates a larger role for Lorenzo Harrison now.
— Eric Myers (@ericmyers531) September 23, 2019
Funk was a member of Maryland’s Class of 2016. He appeared in 13 games for Maryland as a true freshman that year and appeared in 12 more games the following season. In 2018, Funk appeared in just three games, so he could preserve a year of eligibility under the NCAA’s updated redshirt rule. The 2019 season will still count his eligibility, giving Funk one more season of eligibility beginning in 2020. A medical waiver could open the door to an extra year of eligibility if Funk wishes to play again in 2021.
Maryland will open Big Ten play at home this Friday night against Penn State.