Surgery means another freshman will greyshirt

[PonyPride]

The second session of summer school ends next week. After spending weeks lifting weights, running and doing seven-on-seven drills, many SMU players will visit their families, or at least take a few days to relax and decompress before the Mustangs' two-a-day preseason workouts start.

For 2011 freshman Derek Longoria, the end of summer school means a trip to the operating table, followed by a trip home to Brownwood (two-and-a-half hours southwest of Dallas) ... for the entire fall semester.

Longoria has not been working out with his new teammates this summer because he has two broken wrists. He'll finish class Monday, and have the first of two operations Tuesday.

"I'm having the right (wrist) done first," Longoria said. "Once I start to heal up from that, I'll get the other one done."

What makes the story more remarkable is the way in which Longoria broke his wrists.

"I broke the left one playing in a game last fall — it was two games before the playoffs, against Snyder — when I just got lit up (by an opposing player)," Longoria said. "I kept playing, because I didn't know (it was broken). I thought it was just jammed, so I played the rest of the season.

"The other one ... I don't know how I broke it. I was lifting one day with one of my teammates, and I just realized it hurt. When I finally got it checked out, (the doctor) said I'd broken both of them."

The breaks in Longoria's wrists are very similar, so the procedure that will be done on each will be the same. In each case, doctors will take a piece from his radius bone (in his forearm) and screw it into the break in his wrist.

"I've been dealing with it all through track season (in the spring), maybe even during basketball (over the winter)," Longoria said. "I started lifting more to get ready for (his SMU workouts) this summer, doing more power clean and bench press, so I would just tape them up and go."

Longoria will not be sitting idle after next week's surgery; because of his injuries, SMU head coach June Jones recommended Longoria sit out the fall semester and enroll at SMU in January.

"I'm either going to go to Howard Payne University (in Brownwood) or Ranger Junior College (in Ranger, almost 70 miles northeast of Brownwood)," Longoria said. "But I'll be back in January, and I think I'll still be able to keep my redshirt, so I'll have next spring and then still have five years to play four, and I'll have a chance to earn my Master's degree."

The versatile Longoria played a lot of positions at Brownwood, and said the SMU coaches had not yet decided upon his exact role with the Mustangs.

"Coach Jones wanted me to just punt this year, but he and the other coaches were talking about my wrists, and he thinks it's best to go home and get this taken care of," Longoria said. "I'm not sure what they're going to do when I get back as far as playing linebacker, safety ... I don't care, as long as I get to play."

Longoria said that while recovering from his first surgery next week, his exercise regimen will be limited, if not temporarily eliminated altogether.

"I might lose a lot a weight, I might gain weight — I don't know," he said. "They don’t want me to sweat while I have stitches in there. I had surgery on my elbow (in the eighth grade) and when I ran, it got infected. So they don’t want me to risk being out even longer."

Longoria said he doesn't know exactly when he will be able to resume football workouts, but said he hopes to beat the most cautious estimate.

"They said it could take up to 10 months," he said. "It just depends on how fast my bones heal, I guess. Some heal faster than others.

"I went and talked to them (Thursday). They said I'll have two casts — one for about three weeks and a different one for another three weeks. Then I'll be in a custom cast that I can take off — that's when I'll have the left wrist done. So that would be six to eight weeks to get the second one done, and if everything goes well and I heal fast, I'm hoping I'll be good by late December or early January and can start working out."

Longoria said that he could head to Brownwood as soon as Tuesday after surgery, or at least within a couple of days thereafter. While attending one of the other schools and waiting until he is allowed to resume working out, he said he plans to stay attached to his team as much as possible.

"The coaches gave me a binder for the defense, so I'll have all of the plays and stunts," he said, "and I plan to be at every home game, if I can."

Longoria admitted that he is disappointed to have to put off the start of his college career for a semester, but said that it might work out for the best in the long run,

"God willing, my wrists will be healed up better than they were, and when I get back to lifting, I'll get even stronger for next season," he said. "It's frustrating (to have to sit out a semester), but on the other hand, maybe it's a blessing, too, because I'll have more time to get healthy and get stronger for next season."

[No Quarter]

I wish Derek had been available this season but I hope he heals quickly and we have him next year.

[PonyPlayer4]

Maybe he will be the next Sepulveda. Comin in to play linebacker but turns out to be an All-American Punter.

[Hoss]

You might be right. Rumor has it this guy's leg strength is off the charts.

He breaks a wrist and keeps playing. He realizes the other wrist is broken and keeps lifting and competing in hoops or track ... this is one seriously tough young man.

Here's to a full recovery, Derek. Good luck with the surgery. Feel better soon.

[lwjr]

I hope the surgery goes well and we look forward to getting you back on campus in January, Derek.

Pony Up!!!

[SMU 86]

Best wishes on the recovery. I too heard he is an outstanding punter.

[Thumper]

... "I broke the left one playing in a game last fall — it was two games before the playoffs, against Snyder — when I just got lit up (by an opposing player)," Longoria said. "I kept playing, because I didn't know (it was broken). I thought it was just jammed, so I played the rest of the season.

"The other one ... I don't know how I broke it. I was lifting one day with one of my teammates, and I just realized it hurt. When I finally got it checked out, (the doctor) said I'd broken both of them."

After reading this, I would think it would pretty tough to sit out with a minor injury. This guy is seriously tough.

Thanks for the report, PP.

[davidpaul123]

Was disappointed to hear this. Really thought he could be punting for us this year.

[westexSMU]

Headlines says "another freshman will greyshirt." Who are the other freshmen greyshirting this year ?

[ponyscott]

That's too bad, as I was really looking forward to watching Derek play multiple positions. He is old school tough and I wish him a quick recovery.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

I wonder if this is "the hit" that caused one of the injuries?

In the video it's at the 15-16 second mark right in the center of the screen on about the 6 yard line as Derek Longoria rushes from what looks like the safety position to make the tackle and he is just blindsided with a vicious hit. Derek must be a very tough kid to play through such an injury. Once Derek is healed it will be great to add such a tough player to our defense. Get well soon Derek.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzk2fAooCbs

[White Helmet]

My question in is who is paying for these procedures? I hope it isnt SMU as this happened long before his time here. If we are paying it seems like maybe he waited till someone else could pay then decided to have surgery.

[d_pony]

his insurance is paying - that is why he is grey shirting and will not be here until january

[aaives481]

My question in is who is paying for these procedures? I hope it isnt SMU as this happened long before his time here. If we are paying it seems like maybe he waited till someone else could pay then decided to have surgery.

Who cares? Even if his insurance wasn't paying, you really think a few grand on wrist surgeries is going to put a dent in our budget?

[Mexmustang]

Two broken wrists, stitches in his leg? Must look like Frankenstein. Somehow I think this kid's going to be special...