| | BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana senior defensive end Adewale Ogunleye suffered ligament damage to his left
knee in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 34-17 win against Northwestern and will be lost for the season.
An MRI late Saturday night revealed the extent of the damage. Surgery had not been scheduled, as of Sunday.
"I can't say enough about how much we all care for Adewale as a person,"
IU coach Cam Cameron said Sunday in a news release. "Here's a guy,
already an Indiana graduate, who passed on the NFL to return to Indiana
for his senior season.
"He's a team captain, and I'm confident that Wally will continue to lead
this football team. He needs to attack his rehabilitation, and I'm
confident he'll do just that. I just can't say enough about
what he has meant, and will continue to mean, to this football program and
University."
Ogunleye, IU's most dominant defensive player, was in the midst of an
impressive season. He was named a preseason All-America. Friday, he was
named a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the top
defensive player in the country.
"He just continues to get better and better," Cameron said after
Saturday's game. "He's a guy of great character. He's a marvelous kid.
Unfortunately, we have to find somebody to put in his spot for now."
The fifth-year senior, who gave up a chance at the NFL last spring to help the
Hoosiers in their quest for a bowl appearance, will be missed as a player
as well as a leader on defense.
"You talk about character and one of those guys who keeps the rest of the
troops going; he is that guy," defensive coordinator John Heakock said.
Ogunleye finished the season with 22 total tackles, including 11 for a
loss. He also tallied 7½ sacks in just six games.
For his career, Ogunleye finished fifth in the Big Ten with 34 sacks and
sixth in the conference with 64 tackles for a loss.
"Wally's fine as far as his spirits and everything," sophomore quarterback
Antwaan Randle El said. "He limped off the field, but Wally's spirit and
everything is fine."
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