Despite coming off an encouraging win over The Citadel in Charleston, the Mountaineers' week began with some disturbing news. As expected, Cedric Baker Boney and Demery Brewer are not going to play on Saturday due to injuries suffered last weekend. Cedric is due for further evaluation on his shoulder and will hopefully be back on the field soon. However, the severity of Brewer's injury was not announced until today, when it was confirmed that he will miss the remainder of the season.
This is terrible news for a team already thin at the linebacker position and more importantly, for the young man himself. Demery is a 6-2, 225 lb. Senior from Lincolnton, NC and a captain of this team. He came into the program in 2008 and made an immediate impact on special teams, where he has continued to excel throughout his career. He has moved back and forth from a down lineman to linebacker during his tenure and in 2011, finally found a home as the starting outside linebacker in ASU's 3-4 defense. He is currently 5th on the ASU roster with 28 tackles, include 2.5 for a loss.
The success of the Appalachian football program is built on kids like Demery Brewer who came to Boone without a true position, surrounded by very talented players that had locked down the majority of the available playing time. In spite of that, he worked hard for four years as a reserve defender and key special teams player so that when his number was called, he was ready to contribute. After losing Justin Wray for the 2011 campaign in the offseason and the move of Lanston Tanyi back to defensive end, Demery stepped in at outside linebacker and the defense did not miss a beat. Although it is not likely, we can only hope that the NCAA will grant a hardship and allow him to return in 2012. My seats this season happen to be right next to Demery's family and they are as proud of him as you would expect. They love Appalachian State and provide very vocal support for our team, now all we can hope to do is give some of that support back. This young man has given all he has to our university, my thoughts are with him and his family.
*Photo from PlayAtTheRock.com
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