Aug. 20, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman linebacker Qua Huzzie will have shoulder surgery and will be out for the season, Coach Rich Brooks announced Thursday.

“It’s a tough thing for him,” Brooks said. “He was in a position it looked like he was going to play some this year and help us, so now he’ll have to take this as a redshirt year.”

On the positive side, the coach mentioned several players who can provide depth behind the expected starting trio of Micah Johnson, Sam Maxwell and Danny Trevathan.

“I feel fine about it,” Brooks said in reference to the team’s depth at linebacker. “We’re playing people on ability and a freshman that plays is not necessarily because there’s not a good player in the mix. Ronnie Sneed has had a great fall camp. We have Mikhail Mabry in there and he’s a very experienced and capable guy. Antonio Thomas is doing some very good things now, so all of our returning linebackers, plus our new ones, are in the mix. It’s a shame (that Huzzie is injured), I hate to have it happen, but I guess better now than in the fourth or fifth game when you couldn’t get a redshirt year back.”

Brooks noted that Huzzie had made a good impression on the coaching staff.

“He’s played very well,” Brooks said of Huzzie, who is the leading tackler in the history of the storied LaGrange (Ga.) High School program. “He’s very instinctive player and obviously a talented guy.”

Happy Birthday, Coach Brooks: Wildcat Coach Rich Brooks turned 68 years of age on Thursday. While he was meeting with the media following practice, a group of players came up and surprised the coach with a rendition of the “Happy Birthday” song.

“The old man’s around for another one,” Brooks joked after the serenade.