Tyler Moeller Done For the Season

Watching the Ohio State Illinois game on the Big Ten Network, as many did this past weekend, many missed the play when Tyler Moeller tore his left pectoral muscle and freshman Christian Bryant took over at the Star position. Moeller is a fifth year senior that excelled at the linebacker/safety hybrid position this season. But confirmation has been made that he will undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle.

By Steve Patterson

Tyler Moeller’s career has been a very successful one on the field but interrupted by an off the field head injury in 2009 and now season-ending surgery. When in Florida last year after earning a starting roster spot in spring practice, Moeller was struck by another bar patron and hit his head on the floor. He needed surgery to relieve pressure on his brain and it was uncertain that he would ever play football again. He made a tremendous recovery to start this season in the Star position.

He did all the right things to prepare for this season according to Head Coach Jim Tressel. Playing with a partially torn pectoral muscle for the past 2.5 years, Moeller knew that it could tear again. He estimated after the game that the muscle has torn some 12 times since the initial tear in 2008.

Through five games he has 20 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 1 sack and 1 interception. He is currently has the fourth most tackles on defense for the Buckeyes behind Ross Homan, Brian Rolle, and Jermale Hines. The coaching staff is planning to petition the NCAA for another year of eligibility due to medical hardship.