BYU's Zac Stout, others face difficult rehab

PROVO — Zac Stout knew in spring practice that the 2011 season would progress with him on the sidelines.

The promising four-star middle linebacker is part of BYU's sterling 2009 recruiting class and he had significant playing time as a freshman. An issue with his patellar tendon in both knees had bothered Stout since high school. He had surgery last spring when his knees failed to respond to treatments.

Now he'll sit.

He didn't even spend the summer in Provo, or come to fall camp. He won't be around the football team for functions until school starts on Monday.

Joining Stout will be at least three athletes who showed a lot of promise in fall camp before they were injured: sophomore fullback Iona Pritchard, freshman tight end Austin Jorgensen and lineman Ryan Freeman, who ruptured his Achilles tendon.

Sitting it out can be dark duty.

It's a tough thing to occupy the bench. Take an energized, highly motivated athlete and have him sit, and you've got a situation few can understand unless you've done it.

Ask Utah State running back Robert Turbin.

"The biggest challenge is to make sure these guys feel they are part of the team when they can't practice, can't play, can't travel or be a part of the wins or losses," said BYU head trainer Kevin Morris.

"To come in and expect to be a big factor and be hurt is tough," Morris said. "You try and keep them upbeat, especially when they know their season is done. The biggest thing is to keep them a part of the team. It tends to get in their minds, that 'I'm not there,' so they stop coming to meetings and events.

"You keep them around their teammates and coaches, all the strength coaches and trainers try and keep them included and part of the team. It is very important."

Morris speaks of the mental and emotional aspect of sitting out as well as the physical therapy and rehabilitation Stout and Co. will undergo.

Morris remembers several seasons ago when lineman Jason Speredon encountered one more injury, another surgery, this time to his rotator cuff. His eligibility was almost over and he told Morris he thought he'd call it done.

"I said, 'Jason, hold off. Get everything fixed, rehab, then make a decision. Don't make a decision when you're hurt.'"

Speredon ended up with a very fulfilling senior season.