Wisconsin's Jack Cichy, one of the top linebackers in college football, will miss the 2017 season after sustaining a torn ACL. Head coach Paul Chryst confirmed Thursday that the Badgers will be without the senior team captain; he will undergo surgery Friday, per a school release.
"You hate it for Jack," Chryst stated in the release. "You only get so many chances to play this game and you never want to see a guy miss any of those opportunities. He's one of the leaders of our team and I know he'll be a big part of what we do moving forward this season."
The former walk-on has already taken a redshirt (2014), so he would need a medical waiver from the NCAA to return to Wisconsin for a sixth year in 2018, should he choose to pursue it. Whether to file for a sixth year hasn't yet been discussed, according to Sports Illustrated, although a statement from Cichy on Thursday hints that his Badgers career has come to a close. If that's the case, his rehab can take on a focus toward the 2018 NFL Draft.
"As I learned the news of my injury and the end of my season I couldn't help but reflect," Cichy said, per the school. "I wanna thank this university and this great state for letting a Wisconsin boy come live out his dreams. From walk-on to captain it's been an unreal experience. I don't know exactly what's in store next, but I know I'm not done with football. No matter what, I felt a thanks was in order. We're gonna keep fighting and we have a helluva season coming. On, Wisconsin!"
Cichy made 60 tackles last season in only seven starts, including seven tackles for loss. He played his best football against the Badgers' toughest competition, making a season-high 15 tackles with a sack against Ohio State on Oct. 15, and 12 stops (10 solo) against Michigan on Oct. 1. He was a Butkus Award semifinalist despite missing Wisconsin's last seven games with a torn pectoral muscle.
Cichy (6-foot-2, 223 pounds) sustained the ACL tear in practice on Tuesday.
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