College Football 2011: The 10 Worst Injury Losses This Season

The main thing that fans fear the most is one of their key players going down with an injury.

It's one of those things that can really change your season—it could mean success or a huge disappointment.

Although nobody wishes an injury on anybody, it is part of the game and something that every team must prepare for.

Here are the 10 worst injury losses in college football so far.

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Memphis WR Marcus Rucker

Class: Junior

Injury: Arthroscopic knee surgery (out four to six weeks)

The honorable All-C-USA selection in 2010 was on pace to have the best season of his career this year with 17 catches for 171 yards and one touchdown in three games.

Then he got hurt in Week 3 in a game against Austin Peay, and he will miss significant time.

Rucker played a big role for a team that struggles passing the ball, and although he's already missed the last two weeks, he's still second on the team in receiving.

Oregon State WR James Rodgers

Class: Senior

Injury: Knee surgery (Missed most of last year and the first two games this season)

When James Rodgers is healthy he is one of the most flashiest players in the country.

Not only is he a solid receiver, but he also runs the ball well. He is one of the most dangerous return men in the country. 

Rodgers is very valuable to this Beaver team, and is one of their very few bright spots they have this season. Hopefully at some point he can regain form and be the player that we all saw in 2009 where he had over 2,000 total yards and 10 touchdowns.

Florida QB John Brantley

Class: Senior

Injury: High ankle sprain (Will miss at least one week)

The Florida Gators went from being the favorites in the SEC East division to not knowing what their future holds. John Brantley went down in the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide and will miss at least the LSU game.

Now Florida is asking freshman quarterback Jeff Driskel to go into Tigers Stadium and pull out a victory against one of the best defenses.

If Brantley doesn't heal fast, it'll just get worse. Florida still has Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida State on the schedule.

Tennessee WR Justin Hunter

Class: Sophomore

Injury: Torn ACL (Out for the year)

Justin Hunter is one of the top young receivers in the country, and is one of the top receivers in all of the SEC. His freshman year he had 415 receiving yards on only 16 catches. He was on pace to break those numbers before he tore his ACL Week 3 against Florida.

Good thing is he is only a sophomore, because this kid is special and we will probably see a lot of him on Sundays.

Florida State QB E.J. Manuel

Class: Junior

Injury: Shoulder (Missed at least two games)

Who knows how that Oklahoma game would have turned out if Manuel didn't get hurt. The same thing goes for the game against Clemson, if he was able to play. 

The Seminoles went from National Champion contenders to having two losses, and nearly falling out of the Top 25.

Clint Trickett played well in his absence, but Manuel is more experienced and more difficult to prepare for.

Indiana RB Darius Willis

Class: Junior

Injury: Knee

What makes this injury so bizarre is the fact that Willis is supposed to be hurt and can't play football because of knee problems. While Indiana was losing to North Texas, he was participating in a wrestling event.

Willis is a talented back who rushed for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns the last two seasons. With all of the close games Indiana has lost this season, they could really use Willis services.

Especially since they only average 126 rushing yards a game. 

Ohio State WR DeVier Posey

Class: Senior

Injury: Suspended

This may not be an injury, but with DeVier Posey suspended it may be the biggest key loss of the college football season.

Posey has missed every game this season so far due to breaking NCAA violations.

He is one of the top wide receivers in college football and has caught 124 balls for 1,793 yards and 16 touchdowns.

With the way Ohio State is struggling and as one of the worst passing teams in the country, you think they could use him right about now?

Missouri RB Kendial Lawrence

Class: Junior

Injury: Broken Fibula (Has already missed the last three games)

Missouri has a good team and has competed with the top competition already, including the Oklahoma Sooners. Kendial Lawrence had the most experience of all the great running backs on that Tigers team. 

Last season he averaged 5.8 yards a carry and was supposed to be one of the leading backs before getting hurt in Week 1.

Good thing for the Tigers—they have a great back in Henry Josey, and James Franklin is a solid runner at quarterback.

But you can never have too many great runners at the running back position.

Texas QB Garrett Gilbert

Class: Junior

Injury: Shoulder surgery (Will miss the rest of the season)

Garrett Gilbert has never been a quarterback that 'wowed' anybody with his play, but he had a ton of experience. This injury may have been a blessing in disguise with the solid performances that Case McCoy has been putting on lately.

Although this is still a big loss, because you always want to have an experienced quarterback available if needed.

Arkansas RB Knile Davis

Class: Junior

Injury: Ankle injury (Out for the season)

This injury has to be the biggest of the college football season because it effects a possible SEC Champion. The Razorbacks have one of the best offenses in the country, and they average 351 passing yards a game. 

Their rushing attack averages 120 yards a game and the low numbers have a lot to do with the absence of Knile Davis.

If he was present this season you could be witnessing one of the greatest offenses in college football.