University of North Carolina Athletics
Durant To Undergo Surgery For Fractured Thumb
October 20, 2002 | Football
Oct. 20, 2002
CHAPEL HILL - University of North Carolina sophomore quarterback Darian Durant will undergo surgery Monday to repair a fracture in his right thumb. Durant, who suffered the injury to his throwing hand when it hit a helmet early in the third quarter of Saturday's 37-27 loss at Virginia, will be out at least six weeks.
According to Dr. Dan Hooker, UNC's head football trainer, the attachment of the extensor tendon pulled off the bone of the right thumb's distal phalanx.
Through seven games this season, Durant leads the ACC in total offense (285.9 yards per game) and passing (265.9 yards per game). He is 126-of-213 for 1,861 yards and 15 touchdowns overall and has rushed for 140 yards and one touchdown on 71 carries.
"We will miss Darian," said UNC head coach John Bunting. "I'm sure he will do everything he can to help out C.J. (Stephens) as he fills in for him."
Stephens, a junior from Gainsville, Fla., has appeared in three games this season and is 14-of-30 for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Stephens completed 9 of 15 passes for 103 yards and one touchdown after relieving the injured Durant at Virginia.
"C.J. takes reps every day with the first unit, so we'll run a very similar package," Bunting said. "It's just another challenge for Coach Gary Tranquill,who is obviously very disappointed that Darian's out.
"C.J. Stephens has got to play, and I think he can play. And we're going to find out how well he can play real soon. We're all going to rally around him."
Carolina (2-5, 0-3) plays at Wake Forest next Saturday. Kickoff is at noon.
