South Dakota lineman suffered spinal cord injury

Published Oct. 12, 2015 5:55 p.m. ET

foxsports

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) University of South Dakota offensive lineman Sam McLeran is recovering from a spinal cord injury that happened during Saturday's game at Western Illinois University.

USD's athletics department said in a news release that the sophomore has regained limited mobility and has been able to walk with assistance.

McLeran experienced numbness and lack of mobility on his right side as a result of the injury.

The Western Illinois athletics website says the injury happened in the second quarter of Saturday's 40-21 loss.

McLeran was taken to a hospital in Macomb, Illinois, and later airlifted to a hospital in Iowa City, Iowa.

The school says McLeran, of North Liberty, Iowa, will be transferred to a rehabilitation center in Cedar Rapids later this week.