Starting right tackle Thomas suffers foot fracture

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia’s projected starting right offensive tackle, Makilan Thomas, has undergone surgery for a broken bone in his foot and is likely out for as much as three months.

Tony Elliott confirmed the injury while meeting with media after Wednesday’s practice, and discussed what follows.

“[Makilan] stepped wrong and ended up with a fractured bone in his foot, had surgery a couple of days ago, so we’re hopeful that it won’t be an extended amount of time,” Elliott said. “It is a multiple-month recovery. It’s very unfortunate and obviously he was devastated.”

The coach said Thomas attended practice Wednesday and observed from the sidelines, and was in good spirits.

“Typically these injuries are three months, but we don’t know enough about how quickly he heals,” Elliott said. “It was kind of a fluke deal, just on air, and we didn’t even have pads on.”

Thanks to success in the transfer portal, Virginia has options in filling Thomas’ vacancy.

Elliott said that Ben York (6-5, 305, second year, Burke, Va.), David Wohlabaugh (6-6, 301, fifth year, Stowe, Ohio), Wallace Unamba (6-6, 335, sixth year, Dallas, Texas), Jack Witmer (6-7, 306, fifth year, Cypress, Texas), and Jon Adair (6-5, 280, first year, Franklin, Tenn.) are all viable options to play the right tackle spot.

Meanwhile, third year defensive end Mekhi Buchanan and fifth year defensive back Ja’Maric Morris also experienced recent injuries.

Buchanan suffered a high ankle sprain that is expected to keep him out of action for a couple of weeks, according to Elliott. Morris was participating in a one-on-one drill and came down the wrong way on his knee, the coach said.

Coaches are waiting on the results of Morris’ MRI and hoping for the best.