Dominique Easley’s career with the Gators is finished.
Easley, a senior, suffered season-ending tears of the ACL and meniscus in his right knee during practice Sept. 24. On Monday, coach Will Muschamp confirmed his star defensive tackle intends to turn pro rather than return as a redshirt senior next season.
“Dominique is definitely going to the NFL next year,” Muschamp said. “I think that’s the best move for him right now.
“He and I talked briefly about it, and that’s what he wants to do, and I support it 100 percent.”
Easley sustained the injury during a non-contact drill, continuing an alarming trend of Florida players suffering torn ACLs this season.
After only two players — Easley and Ronald Powell — suffered torn ACLs during Muschamp’s first two seasons at UF, three athletes — Easley, Andre Debose and Matt Rolin — have suffered serious knee injuries this season.
“Two in three years is good,” Muschamp said. “You never want it to happen. Two in three months, then you’re scratching your head a little bit in how you practice and are you practicing the right way.”
The sudden high frequency of knee injuries prompted Muschamp to seek advice from UF’s medical and strength staffs, as well as outside orthopedics.
Muschamp said he received confirmation that UF was doing everything possible to prevent injuries from occurring.
“It’s three non-contact situations. It’s a guy planting and changing directions — that can happen in the offseason program, that can happen walking to class,” Muschamp said. “There’s nothing we’re doing wrong.”
Debose, a redshirt senior receiver who suffered a torn ACL during practice in August, has not decided whether he will return for a sixth season with the Gators.
In three games this season, Easley, who was voted a preseason First Team All-Southeastern Conference selection by the league’s coaches in August, contributed two tackles for a loss and four quarterback hurries, which tied Powell for the most on the team.
In its first game without Easley, UF held UK to 47 offensive plays for 173 yards in a 24-7 victory at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky.
“We just played mad,” said Buck linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., who contributed two sacks against Kentucky. “We just played for him.”
Easley previously suffered an ACL tear in his left knee against Florida State on Nov. 26, 2011, but was able to return for the start of the following season.
Despite Easley having sustained two major knee injuries during his UF career, Muschamp expects NFL organizations to remain interested in the 6-foot-2, 285-pound defensive tackle. Prior to the injury, a recent Sports Illustrated mock draft ranked him as the No. 15 available prospect.
“He’ll have plenty of interest,” Muschamp said. “He’ll be a productive guy on the next level. He’s a really good football player. He’s extremely intelligent. He gets the game.
“His tape speaks for itself and how he plays the game and approaches the game. He’ll be fine. There will be a lot of organizations that want him in their organization.”
Follow Phillip Heilman on Twitter @phillip_heilman.
Dominique Easley (2) pushes through two opposing players during Florida’s 31-17 win against Tennessee on Sept. 21 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
