The University of Alabama announced that running back Dee Hart and wide receiver DeAndrew White will miss the remainder of the season with knee injuries.
“The MRI indicated that both Dee and DeAndrew sustained knee injuries that will require surgery and they will be out for the year,” head coach Nick Saban said in a statement.
Hart sustained his injury during the second half. The red shirt freshman missed all of the 2011 season after suffering a torn ACL. Hart’s injury leaves Alabama with only three running backs on scholarships, Eddie Lacy, true freshmen T.J. Yeldon and Kenyan Drake. The Crimson Tide’s running back depth has taken a serious hit, as sophomore Jalston Fowler was also lost for the year after suffering a knee injury that will require surgery.
Hart was the third string running back and a special teams standout for the Tide. Drake is expected to fill in for Hart on offense.
White sustained his injury on Alabama’s opening drive. White was the starting receiver opposite Kevin Norwood. The speedster had accounted for 105 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches.
True freshman Amari Cooper, along with Kenny Bell and Christion Jones, will step in for White.
Six Alabama players were recognized by the coaching staff for their performances following Saturday’s 33-14 victory over Ole Miss. Amari Cooper and D.J. Fluker were named players of the week on offense while Dee Milliner and C.J. Mosley were named on defense. On special teams, Christion Jones and Jeremy Shelley were selected.
Cooper caught eight passes for 84 yards and had two touchdowns. Fluker was honored for the second straight week as the top performer on the offensive line.
Mosley has been recognized following all five games this season, leading the Tide with 11 total tackles against the Rebels. The junior linebacker has a team-high 39 stops on the season. Milliner was credited with four tackles, an interception, four pass break-ups and half of a sack. Milliner leads the nation with an average of 2.75 pass break-ups per game.
On special teams, Jones had the first kickoff return for a touchdown for the Tide since Trent Richardson on Sept. 18, 2010. The 99-yard kickoff return erased a 7-6 Ole Miss lead and was the eighth longest in school history. Jones, who was also honored as SEC Special Teams Player of the Week, finished the day with 161 all-purpose yards (142 yards on three kickoff returns and two catches for 19 yards). Shelley was perfect on all four of his field goal tries in the victory. He made a pair of 38-yard kicks in the first quarter and finished the game with field goals of 26 and 24 yards in the fourth quarter. He has connected on all seven of his field goal attempts this year and all 24 of his extra points.
Alabama at Missouri
Alabama’s football game at Missouri on Saturday, Oct. 13, in Columbia, Mo., has been scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. Central time kickoff and will be televised nationally by CBS.
