ND's top tight end to miss 2008 season with knee injury

By BOB WIENEKE , Tribune Staff Writer

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Notre Dame sophomore tight end Mike Ragone will miss the 2008 season. (Tribune file photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Aug 22, 2008 at 3:28 PM EST

Story Updated: Aug 22, 2008 at 5:54 PM EST

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame sophomore tight end Mike Ragone had surgery to repair a tear in his left ACL Friday morning and will miss the 2008 season.

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The 6-foot-5, 251-pound Ragone was listed as Notre Dame's starting tight end at the start of fall camp and was expected to fill the void left by the graduation of John Carlson, a second-round draft choice of the Seattle Seahawks.

Ragone had surgery on the same knee while in high school after injuring it while wrestling. He missed his entire senior season of football because of the injury.

Ragone caught one pass for seven yards as a freshman but was named to the preseason watch list for the Mackey Award, which goes to the nation's top tight end.

"This summer while running routes, Mike tweaked his knee and partially tore his left ACL. His two options were to have the knee fixed immediately or to brace it and try to play. He understood that eventually the knee would have to be fixed and he was hoping to do it at the conclusion of the 2008 season," ND coach Charlie Weis said in an e-mailed statement.

"Mike had continued to practice but felt his progress had deteriorated. Thursday afternoon, Mike came to me and decided that having the surgery done now prior to the start of school would be best. Together with (head athletic trainer) Jim Russ and our team doctors, we quickly arranged surgery for late Friday morning. The surgery was successful and Mike will spend the 2008 season rehabbing to be ready for the 2009 season."

ND also returns Will Yeatman, who played in all 12 games last season, at tight end. Ragone's time would figure to go to freshman Kyle Rudolph, the nation's top prep tight end a year ago. Fellow freshman Joseph Fauria could also factor in, as cot end Luke Schmidt.

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