Torn ACL ends season of Southeast Missouri State running back DeMichael Jackson

Southeast Missouri State starting running back DeMichael Jackson will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.

The news was announced Tuesday, one day after it was released that Jackson would miss Saturday's game against Shorter University with a sprained right knee.

He plans to use a medical redshirt and play next season.

Jackson attended a portion of Tuesday's practice with a brace on his right knee and on crutches.

The senior compiled 22 yards on eight carries against Indiana State in Week 3. He went to the locker room with a pair of trainers just before halftime and returned to the field in the third quarter but did not have another carry. The remainder of the game he had his right knee wrapped and was on crutches.

He's scheduled to have surgery Monday.

"It's the other side of the student-athlete experience. The guy has worked really, really hard for his senior year," Southeast coach Tom Matukewicz said. "Injuries happen, and now he's got to be able to handle that, and as a team we have his back and we're going to help him, but we've got to move on and it's a great opportunity."

Jackson led Southeast with 256 yards rushing on 56 carries, which also ranked second in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Southeast Missouri State's DeMichael Jackson carries against Southern Illinois during the home opener. Jackson tore an ACL on Saturday and will miss the remainder of the season. (Fred Lynch)

He had a career-high 186 yards rushing against Southern Illinois in the second game of the season and needs just four more yards rushing to reach 2,000 in his career.

Jackson missed four weeks with a broken hand last season. He was a second-team all-Ohio Valley Conference selection with 734 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 137 carries.

Matukewicz spoke to his team about the injury after practice and likened the situation to last season when star receiver Paul McRoberts was sidelined with a fractured foot and how Peter Lloyd stepped up and earned OVC offensive player of the week honors the next game.

"I just challenged Brendan Stewart and Will Young, two guys that have done some things but their role is going to increase, 'So what are you going to do when you get that ball come Saturday?'" Matukewicz said.

Stewart, a sophomore, had four carries for minus-3 yards against Missouri and Will Young, a sophomore transfer from Highland Community College, had one carry for minus-3 yards against Missouri. Neither have played the last two games.

Stewart played in 11 games and had 154 yards rushing on 25 carries last season.

Junior Tremane McCullough, a transfer from Arizona Western Community College, is coming off a career game against the Sycamores. He rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. He had five carries for 22 yards in the previous two games.

While his production will remain important to Southeast's offensive success, Matukewicz stressed the necessity for a committee of running backs to fill the void left by Jackson.

"That's just not who he is," Matukewicz said about McCullough. "He ain't going to carry it 60 times, so we need another guy to come in and help with that load."

Jackson is the second Redhawk with a torn ACL this season.

Senior defensive lineman Travis Sanders tore his ACL against SIU in Week 2. He also plans to use a medical redshirt and return next season.