Penn State LB Lee tears ACL in spring practice

Posted: Sat Apr 12 5:13 PM

State College, PA (Sports Network) - Penn State senior linebacker Sean Lee tore his ACL in his right knee during practice on Friday, an injury that will probably sideline him for the entire 2008 season.

Lee will have surgery on the knee over the next two to four weeks, according to Penn State director of athletic medicine Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, and rehabilitation will take approximately nine months.

"I have a responsibility to the team to help do everything I can this year in what might be a non-conventional way," said Lee, who played as a true freshman and has a redshirt year available. "I have to turn this into a positive. It's a bump in the road. I'm excited about the team we have and the kind of season we can have. It's a great opportunity for a young guy."

The Pittsburgh native notched 138 tackles for the Nittany Lions last season, good for second in the Big Ten, behind only teammate Dan Connor. The teammates were the third pair of PSU linebackers to both record 100 tackles in a season since 1969. Lee also had 10 1/2 tackles for a loss, 3 1/2 sacks, forced three fumbles, recovered three fumbles, and had one interception.