ISU's Miller to miss remainder of season with knee injury

[October 09, 2012]  NORMAL -- Illinois State junior running back Jonathon Miller will miss the remainder of the 2012 season due to a knee injury suffered in the team's loss to Southern Illinois on Saturday, according to head coach Brock Spack.

An MRI scan Monday morning showed that Miller tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The Garland, Texas, native and Oklahoma transfer suffered the injury on a carry in the second quarter against the Salukis and was helped off the field. The injury will require surgery once swelling subsides in the knee, and Miller will miss the remainder of the season and most of spring practice as well.

Miller missed most of this spring's practice and sat out the first game of the season with a shoulder injury, which also required surgery in the offseason.

"Jonathon just hasn't been able get his career started here at ISU due to a pair of injuries, and we feel so bad for him," Spack said. "I was amazed that he was able to walk off the field on Saturday, after seeing the hit to the knee, and hoped that the injury was not that bad. But, the test showed he tore his ACL, and he will need to get that fixed soon. We will help him through this tough time and rehabilitation and see how he bounces back."

Miller played in four games for the Redbirds this season and ranks third on the team with 116 rushing yards and a touchdown. In his first game with ISU, Miller rushed for 81 yards on nine carries and earned Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Week honors for his performance in ISU's 31-14 victory at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 8. On his second carry of the day, Miller dashed 58 yards for his lone touchdown of the season.

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]