TALLAHASSEE — Florida State's defense will be missing its top pass rusher for the rest of the season.
All-American defensive end Brandon Jenkins will miss the season with a Lisfranc injury to his left foot, the school announced late Monday night.
"Brandon is not only a tremendous player, but a great person, teammate and leader that we will miss," Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said. "I know he'll bounce back and recover to continue a great career."
Jenkins had 21.5 sacks the past two seasons and debated leaping to the NFL after his junior season. He decided to stay, and in an interview this spring, told reporters that "at one point, I was gone."
He had a sack in the Seminoles' 69-3 season-opening win over Murray State on Saturday, but left the game in the first half with the injury. He walked from the sideline to the locker room, putting weight on both feet.
Fisher said after Saturday's game and again during his Monday afternoon press conference that Jenkins had a bruised foot. But Fisher also said an MRI would be done Monday afternoon as a precaution.
The MRI revealed a Lisfranc injury, a fracture to the midfoot. Fisher said in the statement that he talked with Jenkins and his mother before the decision was made that he would miss the season.
It's not clear immediately clear when Jenkins will have surgery. Jenkins has not taken a redshirt season and could return to Florida State in 2013 or enter the NFL Draft.
Jenkins was part of a Florida State defense that ranked in the top five in the Football Bowl Subdivision in scoring defense in 2011, allowing just 15 points per game.
But now the Seminoles must replace Jenkins, just as they filled the spot vacated by dismissed cornerback Greg Reid.
Florida State already has plenty of capable defensive ends. Reserve end Tank Carradine had a team-leading nine tackles Saturday. Carradine has backed up both Jenkins and FSU's other starting defensive end, Bjoern Werner. The coaching staff has also been pleased with the play of redshirt freshman Giorgio Newberry, who had 1.5 tackles against Murray State.
The Seminoles also landed two of the nation's top defensive ends in the class of 2012 in Mario Edwards Jr. and Chris Casher. Edwards Jr. was considered by some recruiting services as the nation's top recruit.
