Carter Coughlin, the Gophers' top incoming football recruit, had successful surgery Thursday to repair a partly torn labrum in his left shoulder.
He said Wednesday that he first suffered the injury as a junior at Eden Prairie High School. The linebacker played with a brace on the shoulder but realized during his senior season that this was something he needed fixed before beginning a college career.
"The reason I'm getting surgery is [the labrum] could tear more," Coughlin said. "If it tears more, I have to get surgery right then and there, which would probably be in football season. So now's the perfect time to do it."
Coughlin had to forgo the rest of his senior season of basketball at Eden Prairie because of the surgery.
He had a standout week recently at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl but sustained a concussion in the Jan. 9 game on a play where he hit the opposing quarterback.
"I got him; I got myself, too," Coughlin said, laughing.
Because of the concussion, doctors delayed Coughlin's shoulder surgery. He should be ready to resume upper-body lifting exercises in 3½ months and hitting in five to six months. He anticipates being at full strength for Gophers' training camp in August.
JOE CHRISTENSEN
