Jerome Hayes, one of Penn State's reserve defensive linemen, will miss the rest of the 2007 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee suffered in Saturday's win against Wisconsin, according to the Penn State athletic department.
Hayes' injury is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Nittany Lions defensive line. Freshmen Abe Koroma and Ollie Ogbu have battled injuries this season and sophomore Phil Taylor did not play Saturday -- Joe Paterno said Taylor is in his "doghouse."
Hayes, a redshirt sophomore, played in all seven game of the 2007 season, splitting time between defensive end and linebacker. He has recorded 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
He was listed on last week's depth chart as the only backup to junior Josh Gaines at left end. This week, freshman Aaron Maybin is listed as Gaines' backup, as well as the backup to sophomore Maurice Evans at right end.
Hayes was hurt during a punt return early in the third quarter. Two team officials helped him off the field so he didn't have to put any pressure on his legs. In the fourth quarter, he was carted into Penn State's locker room.
According to the athletic department, Hayes will have surgery on his knee sometime during the next two weeks.
His rehabilitation is expected to last until summer 2008.
Because he has seen so much time on the field this season, he is not eligible for a medical redshirt.
Hayes is currently recovering at his apartment, his father, Eric Hayes, said yesterday.
"He's very optimistic," Eric Hayes said. "He wants to get the surgery over with and get it taken care of and get back on the road to recovery."
Hayes' father was at Saturday's game and went to Penn State's locker room immediately after Jerome's injury. Team officials told Eric on Saturday that Jerome would miss the rest of the 2007 season.
Though Jerome was not in very much pain immediately after he was hurt, he was depressed about the injury, his father said.
"He's gotta be ready for next year," Eric Hayes said. "He's really looking forward to next year."
Early in the 2006 season, Hayes sustained a foot injury that kept him off the field for five games, but he made it back in time for the final five games of the season.
