USC Tight End Allred Breaks Leg and Will Miss the Rest of Season

Tight end John Allred, USC’s No. 2 receiver, broke his left leg in practice Wednesday and is lost for the season.

Allred caught 10 passes for 131 yards in three games before he went down with what at first appeared to be a sprained ankle. Later, X-rays showed a break in the lower leg, and he was scheduled for surgery Thursday afternoon.

Allred led the Trojans in receiving yardage, and only wide receiver Ken Grace had more catches, with 16.

“It’s a shame, John was just coming off two other injuries and was really getting into a groove,” said David Robinson, who coaches the tight ends. “It’s a great loss for our offense.”

Allred, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound sophomore, also sat out the last two games of the 1993 season because of a broken leg. Earlier this season, he had a sprained right ankle and was slowed in training camp by a hamstring pull.

Last season, he played behind senior starter Brad Banta and caught 10 passes for 93 yards.

Robinson said juniors Tyler Cashman and Johnny McWilliams will fill in for Allred, and that sophomore Jeff Diltz will play when USC is in a three-tight end set.