Running back Lorenzo Harrison III likely out for season with MCL tear, partial ACL tear

Maryland football has lost another player to a knee injury.

Running back Lorenzo Harrison III suffered a torn MCL and partially torn ACL against Penn State on Friday and is likely out for the remainder of the season, head coach Mike Locksley announced Tuesday. He will undergo surgery Wednesday.

Harrison is the fifth Maryland player to suffer an ACL injury this year, joining safety Antwaine Richardson, wide receiver Jeshaun Jones, Durell Nchami and Jake Funk, who all tore their ACLs.

“I can’t even start to explain how bad it hurts to be taken away from something your heart desires,” Harrison wrote in an Instagram post. “However, I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, good or bad. So as much as my mind is racing at the moment, I know it will work out in my favor. Hard times either make you or break you. Guess it’s time to get a lil stronger.”

On his first rushing attempt against the Nittany Lions, the redshirt junior was given the ball on a reverse and tackled on the Maryland sideline after a 7-yard gain.

Harrison initially stood up after he was tackled but eventually made his way to the team’s medical tent. He could clearly tell something was up right away, showing his frustration by throwing his helmet into the water coolers and slapping a water bottle.

With Harrison’s injury, the Terps’ running back room that was once a deep position group becomes even thinner. Harrison was expected to have a larger role in the offense after Funk tore his ACL against Temple, but now the Terps will have to depend on the trio of Anthony McFarland Jr., Javon Leake and Tayon Fleet-Davis in the ground game.

Harrison appeared in two games for Maryland this season, carrying the ball seven times for a total of 70 yards. In his four years within the program, Harrison has 1409 rushing yards, 108 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns.

Ever since becoming the No. 2 back for his freshman and sophomore seasons behind Ty Johnson, Harrison has struggled to make the same impact due to injuries.

After appearing in the first two games of the season last year and rushing for a total of 84 yards on 10 carries, Harrison sat out Maryland’s third game of the season as he nursed a hamstring injury.

Interim head coach Matt Canada continued to keep him out of the game against Minnesota two weeks later. But upon returning to practice the following week, Harrison went down with a knee injury and missed the remainder of the season. Because he only played in two games, the DeMatha product was granted a redshirt for the season.

Now as he recovers from yet another injury, Maryland’s running back depth comes into play as the other three backs will be asked to carry the load. Lucky for the Terps, it was one of their deeper positions for the 2019 season.

With Harrison only appearing in two games this season (Howard and Penn State), the Maryland coaching staff could apply for a medical waiver through the NCAA that would give him another season of eligibility. He would otherwise have just one year left.