Aug. 15, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State senior fullback Dave Mordis had his collegiate career come to an end on Tuesday, as the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) report revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee.
The 2007 season was projected to be one of promise for Mordis, who was coming off a second-team all-Gateway Football Conference selection which resulted in a spot on the 2007 All-Gateway Preseason First Team. With Mordis being a key component in the Redbird offense, head coach Denver Johnson was taken back by the news, but he was more concerned about the individual and the loss of a senior season.
"I'm just heartbroken for Dave, I got sick to my stomach when I heard the news," Johnson said. "He's a great kid, contributor and leader for this football team. He received some post-season recognition last year and some preseason recognition this year and was poised to have a great senior year. It's just a heartbreaking thing.
"It's going to hurt us as a team, and I'm absolutely heartbroken for him. We work so hard to give kids the opportunity to play as a full-grown football player. It's their shoulders that we build this program on, and that's why it's so hard to lose his senior year like that. He's got a good attitude about it, the team is rallying around him and he knows that we love him and care about him."
Mordis played in 35 games during his Redbird career with 32 starting assignments. In 2006, Mordis hauled in 20 receptions for 185 yards and one touchdown, but he was key blocker for an offense that averaged over 170 rushing yards per game. He was also instrumental in Pierre Rembert's 1,743 rushing yards last season.
