What was thought at first to be a bruised knee has instead turned into an

injury that will keep the Tennessee Volunteers’ Jamal Lewis out for the

season.

An MRI conducted on Monday morning revealed a torn lateral collateral

ligament in the star sophomore tailback’s right knee. The injury was

suffered early in the fourth quarter of the Vols’ 17-9 win at Auburn on

Saturday.

A disappointed Phillip Fulmer broke the news after practice on Monday

afternoon.

“Jamal Lewis has a torn lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his right knee

and will have surgery (Tuesday).

“He is through for the year, although there’s a chance he could be back for

a bowl game, but that’s not likely. If the injury is not repaired right

away, it could lead to further damage.

“I’m disappointed for Jamal and this team,” he continued. “Like he does

with everything else, Jamal took the news very maturely and understood it.

“Somebody else will have to step up. The injury is something that happens

in contact sports.”

Lewis, of Atlanta, was leading the Vols with 497 yards on 73 carries (6.8

avg.). He also had three rushing touchdowns.

The preseason All-America and Doak Walker Award candidate had rushed for at

least 135 yards in three of Tennessee’s first four games.

Against Auburn, it was Lewis’ 67-yard run, a career-long scamper, that gave

Tennessee a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

After he came up limping on a 1-yard run in the opening moments of the

fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Lewis gave way to fellow sophomore

Travis Henry.

Lewis returned for the Vols’ next offensive series, but it appeared that he

aggravated the injury on a 21-yard run down the right sideline, twisting

the knee as he attempted a cutback toward the middle of the field after

stepping out of bounds.

Lewis, who set a Tennessee freshman record in 1997 when he rushed for 1,364

yards on 232 carries, also racked up seven touchdowns on the ground that

season.

He also caught 23 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns during his rookie

season. He had a long run of 65 yards in ’97 against South Carolina.

After Saturday’s game, Lewis, sporting an ice pack on the injured knee,

told a CBS reporter that he believed he merely had a bruise and would be

back for the Vols’ trip to Georgia on Saturday.

Unfortunately for Tennessee, that is not the case.