Pitt T Jaryd Jones-Smith out for year with knee injury
Pitt has lost a potential starter on the offensive line.
The team said tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith will miss the 2015 season after suffering a knee injury.
“We are incredibly disappointed for Jaryd,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said in a statement. “Our entire team will rally behind him as he works to overcome this challenge. Jaryd is a great young man and a tough competitor. Even though he is sidelined this year, he is going to remain an important member of our team this fall.”
He’s scheduled to have surgery on Thursday.
A redshirt sophomore in 2015, Jones-Smith was penciled in as Pitt’s starting right tackle. He played last year at left tackle and started three games.
According to Panther-Lair.com, there is no obvious replacement for Jones-Smith at right tackle.
The most likely option might be to move redshirt freshman Alex Bookser, who worked at right guard in spring camp but came to Pitt as a highly-regarded offensive tackle prospect. That scenario would probably mean a move for redshirt sophomore Alex Officer from center to right guard and a return to the starting lineup at center for redshirt senior Artie Rowell.
Other options could include junior Dorian Johnson, who started 13 games at left guard last season but played tackle as a freshman in 2014, as well as redshirt freshman Aaron Reese, who was Jones-Smith’s backup in spring camp.
Last season Pitt running back James Conner ran for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Jones-Smith was a three-star recruit in the class of 2013 out of Philadelphia.
For more Pitt news, visit Panther-Lair.com.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
