The Illinois State football team will be without the services of Sam Young for the next three to four weeks after the all-American defensive back undergoes surgery to repair a thumb injury suffered against Youngstown State.
Young, the 1999 FB Gazette I-AA Defensive Back of the Year, is tentatively scheduled to undergo surgery on Friday to repair a torn ligament and chipped bone in his thumb.
While this injury is similar to that hampered former Redbird wide receiver Cory Grow last season, Illinois State head athletic trainer Kathy Schniedwind is cautiously optimistic about Youngs chances of returning to action before seasons end.
Its at least three to four weeks protected, Schniedwind said. Its possible he could be back for the final two games of the season with protection on the hand if everything goes okay, but it could be season-ending as well.
