Jalen Green, who leads the FBS in sacks and tackles for loss, is out for the season due to a knee injury, JMU head coach Curt Cignetti announced Monday.
Green’s injury, which occurred during the Dukes’ win over Georgia State last weekend, will require surgery, Cignetti added.
Green no longer has eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound senior defensive lineman had started to receive “a lot” of interest from NFL scouts, according to Cignetti.
Green had recorded 15.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss. He had broken the Sun Belt’s single-season record for sacks and was one away from tying JMU’s record.
He also had 50 total tackles, two forced fumbles, a pick-six, and a pass breakup. His most impressive game of the season was on Oct. 19 when he tallied five sacks, which tied the Sun Belt’s single-game record.
This was Green’s first full season as a starter. He chalked up 22 tackles, six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one interception last year in 11 games with one start. The year before, he totaled 14 tackles, 2.5 for loss, with two sacks, a forced fumble, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry.
“Everybody feels really bad for him,” Cignetti said. “He was having a tremendous season.”
