March 3, 2011 - 5:09pm
Updated: Woolfolk leaves practice with dislocated ankle
BY TIM ROHAN
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez released a statement Tuesday evening regarding senior cornerback Troy Woolfolk. The Wolverines' most versatile and experienced defensive back left practice with a lower body injury.
"Troy Woolfolk suffered a lower body injury during practice this afternoon and was transported to U-M Hospital with our team physician," Rodriguez said in a statement. "We can’t comment further due to medical privacy rights."
Any visit to the hospital can't be good news. Woolfolk is expected to be one of the anchors of Michigan's defense this fall. He was considered a reliable entity in a secondary that could be a major question mark for the Wolverines. With JT Turner granted his release from the team and the loss of blue-chip recruit Demar Dorsey already this summer, the loss of Woolfolk could leave the Michigan secondary scary thin.
JT Floyd had received praise from the coaching staff and Woolfolk leading up to camp, and could be Woolfolk's replacement if he misses time due to this injury. After Floyd, freshmen Cullen Christian, Courtney Avery, and Terrence Talbott might have to step up and perform at a high level sooner than anyone expected.
Recently, Michigan has relied on Donovan Warren to start immediately as a true freshman, and even Boubacar Cissoko started a few games in 2008.
Senior James Rogers and redshirt junior Tony Anderson could be called upon to fill in too.
Woolfolk made six starts at safety last year and six starts at cornerback. If the injury is serious and season-ending, he does have the option of redshirting this year and returning in 2011.
UPDATE: The Detroit Free Press talked to Woolfolk's father, Butch, and he said that Woolfolk dislocated his ankle.
“I’m only listening to what the coaches told me, but they said it happened during a tackle. His foot got stuck in the turf and his ankle just turned,” Butch Woolfolk told the Freep. “It was dislocated and when they put it back in the socket, they did an X-ray and found out about the ligament (damage) and the bone broke.”
The report also says that a decision about surgery has not yet been made.
Here is the Free Press article: http://www.freep.com/article/20100817/SPORTS06/100817062/1319/U-M-corner...
