Iowa's Scherff undergoes surgery

IOWA CITY — Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff is having surgery this morning, according to KCRG-TV.

Scherff, a 6-5, 323-pound senior and preseason all-American, suffered a knee injury in the second quarter of the Hawkeyes' 17-13 victory over Ball State last weekend. Scherff tried to chase down BSU defensive tackle Blake Dueitt and he recovered a fumble and returned it 35 yards for a TD.

Scherff tackled Dueitt at the goal line and came out of the pile seemingly OK. He took a few steps and fell to the turf. Iowa trainers immediately examined his right knee.

Scherff's surgery is not believed to be an ACL procedure. In the postgame, he described the knee as 'locked up,' which would point to meniscus damage. That's an arthroscopic procedure that sidelines players from two to six weeks.

Derek Martin, the sports director at KMA Radio in Shenandoah, tweeted this morning, 'Am told Hawkeyes tackle Brandon Scherff out of surgery on meniscus this morning. Ligaments are fine. Out 2-3 weeks.'

Seven trainers surrounded Scherff on the sideline before walking himself into the lockerroom. He was replaced by redshirt freshman Ike Boettger for two series and one play. Scherff returned to the game with about four minutes left in the second quarter.

After the game, Scherff said the knee felt OK.

'I stood up and my knee locked up,' Scherff said. 'I didn't know what happened. I didn't want to stress anything, so I sat back down. I'm all right, it's good.'

When asked what he thought it was, Scherff said, 'They [UI team doctors] don't know yet. We're going to check it out in the morning. I'm walking, I'm fine, so it's good.'

There has been no official word from Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who was asked about Scherff after the game.

'It was a great effort play on his part. He was just trying to help us out after a turnover,' Ferentz said. 'When he stayed down, that's not a good feeling, obviously.

'The good news is his knee was stable when they examined it. He's a really tough-minded guy. For him to come back and do what he did is a positive. Also Ike Boettger jumped in there and did a nice job. Came out of the bullpen, and seemed like he held his own out there.'

If Scherff has had arthroscopic knee surgery, he'll likely be out at least this week against Iowa State (0-2) and perhaps through the rest of September's schedule (at Pitt on Sept. 20 and at Purdue on the 27th).

With Boettger as Scherff's replacement, Iowa will likely have two redshirt freshman on the left side of the offensive line. Boettger, a 6-6, 275-pounder, came to Iowa as a tight end. As a junior at Cedar Falls High School, he played quarterback (it's coincidence that Scherff also played QB at Denison High School).

'He's the best offensive lineman in the country,' said Boettger, who made the move to offensive tackle early last season. 'I'm very good friends with him. Just seeing him come back out, I'm very happy for him to be back out there healthy.'

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