Michigan lost a key part of its offense last weekend, becoming the latest victim of a plague of preseason injuries that has hit both NFL and NCAA teams.
Sophomore wide receiver Amara Darboh injured his foot in a scrimmage Saturday, and the team announced Wednesday that he will require season-ending surgery.
"I love Amara, and just hate it for him, how hard he worked through the offseason and fall camp to earn a starting role," Michigan coach Brady Hoke said in a statement. "We'll rally around him like a family does and help him get through this difficult time."
Darboh and the coaching staff decided not to redshirt him last season as a true freshman, even though he was limited to special-teams duty for most of the year. The plan was to get him used to game speed, so that he could step in and give the Wolverines a big downfield threat.
At the moment, Michigan's top two receivers, Jeremy Gallon and Drew Dileo, are both well under 6 feet tall, so the 6-foot-2 Darboh was filling a key role.
That job now goes to 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman Jehu Chesson, who didn't get Darboh's game experience last season. Chesson will be playing his first college game when Michigan faces Eastern Michigan on Aug. 31.
