1998 Spring Football Notes #2 – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/5/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 5, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio -True sophomore offensive guard Tam Hopkins will miss the remainder of Ohio State University’s spring drills after suffering a fracture/dislocation of the right ankle Saturday during the first full pads practice of the spring. The injury – a fracture of the fibula and a dislocation of the ankle – occurred at the very end of the day’s practice. Hopkins’ ankle was placed in a splint at OSU Medical Center and he was released from the hospital. He will have surgery either Sunday or Monday.
Hopkins, a 6-5, 315-pound offensive lineman from Winter Park, Fla. and Lake Howell High School, was working out at right guard. He was listed as the back-up to junior-to-be Ben Gilbert on the pre-spring depth chart. Last year as a true freshman, Hopkins earned his first varsity letter after seeing action in seven games.
Spring Notes
* Before Hopkins’ injury, the Buckeyes already were without starting left guard Rob Murphy, a 1997 Football News All-American, who had a medial colateral ligament reconstruction in January. He’ll spend the spring continuing his rehabilitation.
* Strong safety Damon Moore took part in Saturday’s full pads practice after participating in only parts of the first two practices. He has been recovering from a bout with pneumonia that caused him to lose nearly 20 pounds.
* Jerry Westbrooks is back on the offensive side of the ball and is practicing at tailback. The 6-2, 235-pound sophomore from Boca Raton, Fla., spent last season learning the strong safety position after spending a red-shirt season in 1996 at fullback. He rushed for nearly 3,000 yards and scored 32 touchdowns while prepping at Pope John Paul II High School.
* Two members of OSU’s 1998 recruiting class are enrolled in school and participating in spring drills. Mike Collins is a 6-3, 290-pound defensive lineman from Fork Union Military Academy. A native of Newark, Ohio, Collins is wearing jersey number 98. And junior college linebacker James Cotton is wearing number 52. The 6-4, 245-pound native of Cleveland (and Collinwood High School), comes to OSU from Community College of San Francisco.
