Penn State linebacker Sean Lee tore his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during practice on Friday, Sports Information Director Jeff Nelson confirmed Saturday.

"I have a responsibility to the team to help do everything I can this year in what might be a nonconventional way. I have to turn this into a positive," Lee said in a statement.

The 2007 second-team all-Big Ten linebacker will undergo surgery within the next two to four weeks. The recovery period is expected to last nine months.

Lee would have been the team's leading returning tackler, but has a redshirt year available. He has not yet made a decision on whether to take a redshirt this year.

Check Monday's Daily Collegian for the complete story.