USC outside linebacker Porter Gustin is out for the season, coach Clay Helton announced on his Sunday evening teleconference with reporters.
This confirms what
Adam Maya reported here earlier this afternoon.
"Sad to say that Porter Gustin late in the game had an injury that caused an ankle fracture that will take him out the rest of the season," Helton said. "He will have surgery this week to repair the fracture and then we will begin the healing process for him."
It's brutal news for both the Trojans and for Gustin, who has pushed himself consistently to be on the field and deliver for this team. He needed just a few weeks to return in time for the season opener after having surgery to repair his meniscus in early August. And he had spent the last two weeks rehabbing an ankle impingement before returning Saturday to rack up 6 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
He leads USC and the Pac-12 with 7 sacks, while no other Trojan has more than 1.5 sacks.
The injury occurred with 2 minutes, 35 seconds left in USC's 31-20 win over Colorado on Saturday, with the Buffaloes looking to mount a late rally with the ball around midfield.
"It's just one of those things that just make you sad as all get out," Helton said. "I had a chance to be with him when we saw the X-ray last night after the game. Obviously, it's extremely hard because he has put so much into it, has done so much for our team. But now it's about him going through this surgery, us focusing on getting him well.
"It's going to be about a three, four-month process to get him back to where he can show exactly what we all know -- that he is an NFL football player -- to NFL general managers and to scouts. Obviously, he is saddened by it. He handled it like a grown man, but we are all kind of numb right now, to be honest with you, because he's a force of nature and you think of him as a super hero, as Thor as we say, and to know that he's not going to be with us for the remaining part of the season is obviously something that hurts us all."
Helton said he'll have a better sense on Tuesday, once defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast has put the game plan in place based on the matchup with Utah.
Candidates to fill Gustin's "predator" role include Christian Rector, Hunter Echols, Kana'i Mauga and Jordan Iosefa. connor murphy
"We'll be looking at several different guys. Obviously we have a very athletic quarterback [this week] with [Utah's Tyler' Huntley that we are going to need to make sure we have an athlete for their zone read game as well as pass rush," Helton said. "So we may have to use a variety of packages. ... I'm guessing that you're going to see different guys out there depending on the situation."
Freshman middle linebacker Palaie Gaoteote, who had a breakout game in his first career start Saturday but doesn't have a clear role once senior linebacker Cam Smith is healthy, played some on the outside during the first half of the Washington State game when Gustin was out, but Helton noted that was a special package used primarily against pass-heavy teams.
"I know that Clancy will take the next two days to be able to formulate the best plan for us based on what Utah does," Helton said. "But it's very hard to replace a Porter Gustin, a guy that has done so much for his team. I thank him for everything he has accomplished. He's now going to go from a great player to a great coach. He's somebody that I don't know if we can fill his shoes, but I know some guys that are going to give their best effort."
Meanwhile, this wraps up Gustin's college career. When healthy -- he was limited by toe and biceps injuries last season -- he proved to be an absolute force, tallying 137 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 21 sacks in his time at USC. He was having a career-best season so far this fall, already setting a new personal best with his 7 sacks.
Helton was asked to put Gustin's Trojans career in perspective Sunday night.
"The ultimate teammate, the ultimate leader, setting the tone not only by example but his care and concern for his teammates and willing to do everything for them," he said. "So proud for him for the man that he has become over the last four years, and even this last year -- the more vocal leadership that he gave to us. The way he took young kids in his last year and put them under his wing. He literally grew up a Hunter Echols personally. I watched that happen. And then just him being a master of his craft, a student of the game.
"Like I told him last night, he's going to play this game for a long, long time, in my mind. He's such a talent. Whoever gets him in the NFL is getting a very rare commodity as an unbelievable teammate, a great pass rusher who is going to do anything possible to help his team win."
