University Park, Pa. — Penn State starting offensive tackle Lou Eliades (Ocean, N.J.) will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a serious knee injury in Saturday’s victory over Temple.
A fifth-year senior, Eliades tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the third quarter, according to Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State Director of Athletic Medicine. Eliades will have surgery within the next two weeks and rehabilitation will take a minimum of nine months, according to Sebastianelli.
Eliades had started all 17 games on the offensive line the past two seasons. Last year, he started all 13 games at right guard, helping Daryll Clark throw for a school record 3,003 yards and Evan Royster eclipse 1,000 rushing yards, as Penn State went 11-2 and earned another Top 10 finish.
This past spring, Eliades returned to right tackle and has helped the Nittany Lions to a 3-1 start entering Big Ten play. In the 22-13 win over Temple, the former Ocean Township High School standout helped the Nittany Lions set season-highs with 216 yards rushing and 439 yards of total offense.
Eliades earned his degree in kinesiology in August.
No. 22/20 Penn State (3-1) will travel to face No. 17/18 Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 2 in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CT/8:00 p.m. ET at Kinnick Stadium. The clash will air on ESPN, the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com. The Hawkeyes also are 3-1 after beating Ball State, 45-0, on Saturday.
