Damien Square: Multipurpose Defensive Talent

He's Back!

Damien Square is back and excited about returning to the lineup for the Crimson Tide. After sitting out as a redshirt in 2008, he was ready to play and became an active participant in the defensive schemes for the 2009 squad.

Critics, sportswriters, pundits, and fans downplay the significance of the out-of-conference games against lower-division schools during the regular season. But to Damien Square, the game against FIU was the most significant in his young college career.

The Injury

He was playing the defensive end position, pressuring the quarterback when a simple misstep ended his 2009 season.

"I came off the tight end and was coming in to rush the tackle. It was just a bad step."

Damien found himself down on the ground, staring into the sky, uncertain as to what had just happened.

"There was contact, but not that much," he continued. What he did notice in the aftermath of the play was the intense pain and the inability to lift himself off the ground and use his leg. He was later diagnosed with an ACL rupture and meniscus tear.

In the ensuing press conference, Saban was somber when discussing the mammoth defensive end. Saban commented: "We have plans for No. 92 this year, he is a big part of our defensive scheme. We will have to see how this turns out and then make adjustments if necessary."

Adjustments were necessary, and it worked out for Alabama. But Damien Square was shuttled off to the operating room and underwent reconstructive surgery and menisectomy. He later endured the grueling rehabilitation schedule to get his knee back to its pre-injury status.

Rehabilitation

What is rehabilitation like?

At least six weeks in a brace, then testing stability in crutches.

Just to be able to walk without a crutch is a great milestone in the rehabilitation process.

Weeks and weeks of cycling to rebuild the quads and hamstrings to a baseline strength.

There is always that chronic pain that weakens the spirit and dampens the mood anytime someone asks you how you're doing. Leg strength comes back, but you need symmetric strength. That takes longer.

With the loss of the ACL, there are nerves that assist the brain with proprioception that are also torn and damaged. For the nerve tissue, the damage is forever. Proprioception helps the brain know where the limb is in space.

The brain has to retrain the lower extremity in sending appropriate feedback to the proper location of the knee relative to the hip and ankle. This too, while not an active cognitive process, takes time.

You see, despite the success of ACL reconstruction with current surgical techniques, this is a difficult injury to overcome. It takes self discipline, a healthy individual, and mental strength.

Before 1980, a torn ACL was almost always a career-ending injury. Despite surgical success, rehabilitation is intense and a good outcome is entirely dependant on the patient.

You gotta get your mind right to get into the rehab mode, particularly if you want to return as a high-performance athlete. Many athletes battle with depression in some form through rehabilitation.

Misery Loves Company

Although you wouldn't wish this injury on anyone, Square was soon joined by teammate Dont'a Hightower (two weeks later) with the same injury and need for reconstruction. Hightower was injured on a legal chop block in the Arkansas game.

It turned out to be a blessing. These players are closer than they once were because of their bonding during rehabilitation over the six-month period.

Both players have made a complete recovery. Both are vying for a starting position in the 2010 Alabama defense. Hightower will likely be the defensive team leader, taking over the duty of strong-side linebacker Rolando McClain, who has moved on to the NFL.

Recovery

Damien has been a lower-profile player than Dont'a. Both are impressive athletes and will be big contributors, barring a second injury. Damien is a more versatile contributor to the defensive unit.

Square can play as a defensive end, defensive tackle, or outside linebacker. He has been tried at the Jack position this spring and is lining up with the first team at defensive end, alongside Dont'a Hightower.

In his senior year of high school, Damien Square was ranked by Scout.com as the No. 9 linebacker in the nation. He was also rated the No. 37 defensive tackle prospect by Rivals.com and listed as the No. 24 defensive end in the nation by ESPN.com.

Not many athletes get rated at multiple positions, and certainly not graded so well at every spot. He is a special kind of football player.

As a senior, he collected 97 tackles (35 for loss), 14 sacks, and recorded a fumble recovery. He was named Class 4A All-State, was an All-Greater Houston selection and earned District MVP honors. He was also the No. 70 overall Texas prospect by SuperPrep Magazine.

As a college player, he is athletic enough to drop back in pass coverage from the defensive end or linebacker position in order to allow a corner blitz. He can put on a bull rush with Marcel Dareus coming from the opposite end and can pursue a speedy running back, forcing the runner inside, preventing the sweep.

No. 92 will be called on regularly this season, you can count on it. There are special defensive packages installed that will allow him to shine. He cannot wait to show the A-day crowd what he can do to assist in defending the 2009 national championship crown.

Mr. Square will be a significant contributor for Alabama in the race for the west division championship and anything else that follows thereafter in 2010.