Conditions + Treatments
Ankle Injury/Condition
On October 5, 2014, I ran onto the field at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium with adrenaline pumping through my body. Ole Miss had a real good offense, but that is why we had been practicing. They had so many quick backs and ran read sweep and read zone, but we were prepared. We came to play football - call a play, execute it and play hard.
Ole Miss running back, Mark Dodson received the ball and gained 70 yards in the first play of the game. We lined back up for the second play determined to keep the Rebels’ O-line from gaining any more yardage. They ran a counter play. I sat the edges ready to blow up the play. I came off the line low when my foot got hung up in the turf. Pain shot through my leg as we hit the ground. I tore ligaments in-between my tibia and fibula, chipped a bone in my foot and had a high ankle sprain.
The next day, Dr. Waldrop performed surgery on my ankle, and four weeks later I was back on the field against LSU. My ankle held up pretty well during the game in Death Valley. However the following week, I experienced a setback after the game against MSU. I spent the next three to four weeks focusing on strengthening my ankle and was back for Ohio State on New Year's Day.
My battle did not end here. My foot kept nagging during the post season, and I soon realized that I had chipped my bone for the second time and required a second surgery. My training transferred from the field to rehabilitation from February to June. I missed spring ball due to my injury, however I knew without a 100 percent doubt that Dr. Waldrop would get me back on the field. After my first surgery, I knew that he had my best interest in mind.
Through months of rehabilitation and the support of my team and doctors, I was back for summer programs and conditioning for the 2015-2016 season. I am appreciative of Dr. Waldrop for helping me get back for my senior season at the University of Alabama.
