South Carolina Safety Freeman Injures Knee

South Carolina safety Arturo Freeman, the team’s leading tackler in 1997 and a preseason All-Southeastern Conference selection, suffered torn ligaments in his right knee during practice and is expected to be out most of the season. He is scheduled to undergo surgery Saturday.

Freeman, though he is a senior, played as a true freshman in 1995 and could return in 1999.

He was a first-team All-SEC selection last year with 92 tackles, six interceptions, a blocked field goal and a fumble recovery. Two years ago he led the Gamecocks with 99 tackles.

Coach Brad Scott said Freeman was going through routine kick-blocking drills when he went down because of contact. Scott realized something was wrong when Freeman was slow getting up. Freeman was hurt on the final day of full fall practice.

Last fall, linebacker Darren Hambrick, the team’s top defender, suffered a broken leg in the opening game and did not return until November.

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Sophomore Jesse Palmer will be the starting quarterback for third-ranked Florida while junior quarterback Doug Johnson recuperates from shoulder surgery.

Florida opens its season Sept. 5 against The Citadel.

“It doesn’t look like Doug’s going to be ready for the first game or so right now--unless he makes a miraculous recovery,” Coach Steve Spurrier said.

Johnson has thrown little in the past four days, resting sore muscles in his shoulder. He said he is not completely healthy and that he wasn’t going to rush his return.

Johnson had surgery May 8 on his right arm to correct minor fraying of the rotator cuff.

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Two North Carolina players were suspended indefinitely from all team-related activities after allegedly failing to finish court-appointed community service on time.

Junior defensive tackle Ricco McCain and sophomore defensive tackle Varian Ballard were two of three players sentenced to 24 hours of community service in May for charges of misdemeanor assault in December.

Junior wide receiver Greg Harris also was sentenced to the community service, but he completed the 24 hours on time, the school said.

The men were ordered to turn in reports on a book of their choice as part of their sentences by District Court Judge Alonzo Coleman. A university news release said the men had completed their community service but did not complete it before the deadline.