Associated Press
LOS ANGELES ó Southern California tailback Stafon Johnson probably wouldn’t have survived his weightlifting accident without his muscular athlete’s neck, which helped maintain his airway when a weight bar crashed down on it, Dr. Gudata Hinika said Tuesday.
Johnson could communicate non-verbally with his family members and teammates on Tuesday morning, less than 24 hours after his bench-pressing accident in the Trojans’ weight room. The bar slipped from his right hand and crushed his neck and larynx, which required seven hours of surgery.
The senior’s USC career likely is over, but he’s expected to make a full recovery that could allow him to play pro football.
“Had that been any one of us, meaning me, we would have not survived,” Hinika said. “His neck was so solid, so muscular … and the discipline that one learns from being athletic also really helped him to calm down and just do what he needed to do. He took instruction very well.”
Johnson was using a breathing tube and a feeding tube Tuesday but was listed in stable condition. He unexpectedly woke up and communicated with his parents Tuesday morning.
FLORIDA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. ó Quarterback Tim Tebow went through more post-concussion tests. This time, he had his coach tagging along.
Coach Urban Meyer took several balance and memory tests with his star player because he was curious about the process.
“It’s been an amazing week,” Meyer said.
Meyer said the quarterback still has a headache, but he was able to attend a team meeting. Meyer said Tebow hasn’t been allowed to watch television or read and didn’t attend practice.
CLEMSON
CLEMSON, S.C. ó Backup quarterback Willy Korn says he’ll remain with the Tigers even though he’s frustrated at not playing.BAYLOR
WACO, Texas ó Quarterback Robert Griffin sustained “an isolated tear” in the ACL of his right knee in the last game. The Bears say Griffin is done for the season.
TENNESSEE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó Tennessee linebacker Nick Reveiz tore a ligament in his right knee Saturday and will undergo surgery in the coming weeks to repair it.