Former Wisconsin CB blows out knee in draft workout

By Tony Pauline, Special to SI.com, TFY Draft Preview

Jack Ikegwuonu, the talented cornerback from Wisconsin who was expected to be a first-day selection in April's draft, may have seen his 2008 season end before it even began.

Training in Florida for the Feb. 20th NFL combine, Ikegwuonu tore an anterior cruciate ligament and injured a medial collateral ligament and kneecap earlier this week. The injury occurred while he was pulling a weighted sled designed to improve his speed.

He is set to have reconstructive surgery in the next two weeks, and the seriousness of the injury means his rehabilitation will take at least six months, if not longer. That could keep him on the sidelines for the upcoming season.

A three-year starter, Ikegwuonu was named to several All-America teams as a freshman. The all-Big Ten cornerback came on late in his junior season, shutting down a number of the conference's better receivers after a slow start to the season. He finished the year with one interception and broke up a team-leading 15 passes, and declared for the draft on Jan. 7.

He possesses the size and speed NFL scouts want for the next level, leading to his projection as a second-round pick. Now he's likely to fall into the very late rounds.

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