Knee injury ends McGowan's USF career

USF offensive tackle Mike McGowan, a sophomore from Boca Raton, will not be able to play football again due to a knee injury and will be placed on medical scholarship.

McGowan, who played in one game last season as a redshirt freshman, underwent arthoscopic knee surgery in April after USF's spring game. USF coach Jim Leavitt had hoped he might be able to lower his weight (and the burden on his knees) and contribute at tight end or long-snapper, but McGowan will not be able to continue playing in any capacity.

McGowan is the second USF offensive lineman to go on medical scholarship in the past year, joining tackle Danny Tolley of Wesley Chapel. Walk-on Joe Herzhauser, who worked with the second-team offensive line last season, also saw his college career ended early by a serious knee injury.

McGowan remains on scholarship at USF but does not count against the NCAA football maximum of 85 scholarships. McGowan is expected to help the team as part of USF football's video department, working under video coordinator Jamie DeGerome.

With USF under the NCAA maximum, Leavitt has at least one scholarship available that could be used on a prominent walk-on. Leavitt has already placed Cameron Perkins, a senior walk-on defensive back, on scholarship for this fall.

Comments

[relax a bit...]

i think the path is pretty clear for USF, until a scholarship is available, a walk-on doesn't get one until he gives the team meaningful minutes and stats.

If Hine gets on the field this fall in meaningful playing time then he will get a schollie. If a staff awarded a scholarship for every walk-on that worked hard and 'almost' became an impact player they'd never be able to give scholarships to kids out of HS...blame the NCAA for that one.

"Going to be a starting guard" and actually being a starting guard are two different things. Let Chaz start a few games before beating your chest.

[G.A.]

I think the coaches are more likely to give a scholarship to a senior, knowing it will come available again after the season.

But Chaz Hine has definitely earned the respect of his coaches -- he's on much the same path as Jake Sims, who earned a scholarship after two years as a walk-on if I remember right.

With fewer scholarships available for next spring's recruiting class, I think Leavitt wants to keep as many scholarships as possible available for next year, so it'd likely be a senior if a walk-on were to get a scholarship -- someone like Kenneth Luberice wouldn't surprise me at all.

[It is about time]

Chaz Hine is going to be the starting left guard, why has he not been given a scholarship to reward all his hard work? If you are going to give Perkins one then hine defintely deserves it.

[G.A.]

Guys, I would say it's a possibility, though I am hearing conflicting information on whether Atkins has been accepted by USF's academic committee or not.

[Brian]

Greg, I was just about to ask about the grey shirt. Think they'll give him the scholly?

[BullyPulpit]

Greg,

What is the possibility of Atkins joining the program now rather than deferring enrollment to the Spring?