Gators DT Antwine might need season-ending shoulder surgery

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida defensive tackle Brandon Antwine is in familiar territory: facing more adversity.

Antwine, a 300-pound junior from Garland, Texas, re-injured his shoulder against Mississippi State last month and might need season-ending surgery.

"Your heart bleeds for him because he's all Gator, he's 100 percent in and he's a really good player," coach Urban Meyer said. "He's fighting like a maniac."

That might be an understatement considering all Antwine has gone through to stay on the field.

Antwine battled back from a near career-ending back injury in 2007 and a torn knee ligament last November. He tried to play though his shoulder injury, but the setback has team doctors considering surgery that would end his season early for the third consecutive year.

No one should count Antwine out, though. Not given his history.

In October 2007, Antwine was hospitalized with severe back pain following a practice. Through routine testing at Florida, Antwine had been diagnosed with the trait for the blood disease sickle cell. It doesn't allow Antwine to get as much oxygen into his body during intense exertion.

Though medically cleared to play, Antwine remained under close watch of the athletic training staff.

His back pain concerned trainers about a potential sickling episode - blockage of the small blood vessels at the muscle level that can cause abnormal blood flow and lead to pain - so Antwine was taken to the hospital. He had a battery of tests and was diagnosed with lumbar spine myonecrosis, a degenerative loss of muscle in his lower back. He spent three weeks in the hospital dealing with back spasms, sometimes multiple times a day.

He went though rehabilitation and physical therapy, and for nearly two months, needed a wheelchair to get around.

He continued physical therapy through spring 2008, and by early summer, he was cleared for football-related activities. He played in seven games last season. Meyer called his return a "medical miracle."

But making his first start against Florida State, Antwine tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He missed spring practice and part of summer workouts, but returned in time for the season opener against Charleston Southern.

He played in six games this season, recording three tackles. He injured his shoulder against Kentucky on Oct. 10, missed a game, then re-injured it at Mississippi State. He sat out last week's 41-17 victory against Georgia.

Antwine probably won't play this week when the top-ranked Gators host Vanderbilt, Meyer said, but could try to strengthen the shoulder, play again this season and have surgery in January.

"It's a major injury. That's the shame of the whole thing," defensive line coach Dan McCarney said. "I think he's going to have to have some more surgery. Now when that is, I don't know. It may not be until after the season."