College Football

Antone Exum injury: Hokies DB expected to be sidelined for 2 more months

The Hokies' standout defensive back wanted to recover from his ACL injury in time for the start of the regular season, but now he's looking at an October return.

By Steven Muma@akulawolf Aug 5, 2013, 6:49pm EDT

Virginia Tech defensive back Antone Exum on Monday had a follow-up appointment with Dr. James Andrews regarding his recovery from the ACL tear he suffered in January. Andrews, who conducted the surgery to repair Exum's ACL, recommended that he increase some exercises, and that they re-evaluate the knee in two months.

More: Notes from Hokies camp.

"Antone Exum reported to Dr. Andrews today for a follow-up," said Mike Goforth, Associate Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine. "Upon exam, he still feels like Antone is a little ways away, strength-wise and trusting the knee. They recommended increasing certain exercises and re-testing in two months."

Exum said in July that he still hoped to return in time for Virginia Tech's opener against Alabama, but the odds of that were never very good. Now it appears he is looking at an early-October return, barring setbacks, and if he is able to get back around that time, he'll be able to suit up for the majority of the Hokies' conference schedule. He is most likely to miss the team's conference-opener at Georgia Tech on Sept. 26, which is a critical division game, and the Hokies host North Carolina on Oct. 5.

Exum, a multi-year starter for the Hokies, earned second-team All-ACC honors a year ago and was the MVP of the Russell Athletic Bowl. He finished the season with 48 tackles and had a team-high five interceptions. And despite the injury, he nearly made the preseason all-conference team, finishing third in the voting at cornerback.