October 27th, 2010
Arndt tears ACL, could miss rest of season

Texas State quarterback Tyler Arndt (12) tore an anterior cruciate ligament last Saturday against Northwestern State. Texas State sports information photo.

STAFF REPORT

Texas State freshman quarterback Tyler Arndt could miss the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.

Texas State head coach Brad Wright said at his weekly press conference Tuesday that the football team’s training staff indicated that Arndt could be out for a year. However, said Wright, the injury is similar to the injury running back Karrington Bush suffered last season and Bush was back much faster.

Wright said sophomore Tim Hawkins, the starting quarterback as the Bobcats opened their season at Houston, will take the reins. Brian Hill, a senior from Smithson Valley, becomes the second-string quarterback.

Hawkins, whose option running style contrasts with Arndt’s drop back passing game, figures to bring a new look to the struggling Texas State offense, which has been unable to establish the run while the Bobcats lost their first three Southland Conference games this season.

“That’s going to be the difference, getting the running game going with the quarterback,” Wright said.

Arndt struggled in Texas State’s 16-3 loss to Northwestern State at Bobcat Stadium last Saturday, completing 15 of 41 passes. In the last two minutes of that game, Arndt was hit along the sideline as he kept to the right for a five-yard gain. He needed assistance to leave the field.

Arndt was fifth in the Southland Conference in passing efficiency and fifth in total offense, averaging 198.3 yards per game. He has completed 106 of 192 passes (55.2 percent) for 1,364 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Hawkins started the opener against Houston, completing one of nine passes for 12 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns in a 68-28 loss. By the end of the first quarter, Arndt was taking snaps, and Wright named him as the starter three days later.

Arndt quarterbacked Cuero to three straight appearances in Class 3A state championship games before picking Texas State over Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools such as Vanderbilt, Virginia and Houston.