East Carolina LB Cotton could be out for season

Sep 15, 2008 - 8:48 PM GREENVILLE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The excitement over East Carolina's first 3-0 start since 1999 was tempered somewhat Monday, when coach Skip Holtz announced that senior linebacker Quentin Cotton could miss the remainder of the season.

Cotton, who had started 15 games over the last two seasons, suffered a right knee injury in Saturday's 28-24 victory over Tulane.

"It's look like he will be done, which is really unfortunate because he probably played the best half of football any player has played since I've been here," Holtz said Monday at his weekly news conference. "It's one of those things that really breaks your heart in sports, when you see somebody who has come so far as Quentin Cotton has."

Cotton was named Conference USA's special teams Player of the Week after returning a blocked field goal 44 yards in the second quarter for a touchdown, the first score of his career. He also recorded two tackles, including a sack, and an interception in the first half before the injury.

Cotton's injury likely means that reserve Nick Johnson will move into the starting lineup.

The 17th-ranked Pirates also will be without starting left tackle Stanley Bryant for next Saturday's game against North Carolina State.

Bryant, also a senior, injured his left knee on the second play of the second quarter and will be sidelined indefinitely.