Georgia’s Hearst Tears Ligament in Left Knee

All-American running back Garrison Hearst has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the University of Georgia said Wednesday.

The injury was discovered Sunday when Hearst underwent a standard physical exam by the NFL during its scouting combine in Indianapolis. Hearst then skipped the combine.

Hearst, a junior who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting and won the Doak Walker Award given annually to the nation’s outstanding junior or senior running back, opted to skip his final year of college eligibility and enter the NFL draft this year.

A torn anterior cruciate ligament usually means reconstructive surgery, which probably would sideline him for next season. Hearst said his condition will be evaluated for two weeks before any decision is made.

“I’ve never had any trouble with the knee and have no idea when it may have been hurt,” Hearst said. “My parents and I will be getting as many opinions as possible on what direction we should go.”

Hearst, projected as a top-10 pick in April’s draft, rushed for 1,547 yards last year. He had 163 yards in Georgia’s victory over Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl.

Hearst said he hoped to “continue my regular schedule of going to class and running with the Georgia track team.” But such an injury makes surgery more likely than running track.