:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57660275/jonathan_van_diest.0.jpg)
Colorado Buffaloes freshman linebacker Jon Van Diest suffered a torn ACL in practice this week, per a report by BuffStampede reporter Adam Munsterteiger.
Van Diest will get operated on on Friday. Third straight November, dating back to his junior year at Cherry Creek, that Van Diest has needed surgery. MacIntyre said he has had a positive attitude about it: "He is just a phenomenal kid." https://t.co/oQ2THhUuV7
— Adam Munsterteiger (@adamcm777) November 16, 2017
Van Diest was redshirting this fall as one of CU’s top players in the incoming class and was called the next “Tasmanian Devil” by coach Mike MacIntyre.
A Colorado native and product of Cherry Creek High School (Englewood, CO), Van Diest was named to the Under Armor All-American team last year. He finished with 38 career sacks and lead the Bruins with 74 tackles and 6.5 tackles for a loss during his senior season. Van Diest was also the Colorado Chapter NFF Scholar-Athlete with a 4.1 GPA. The top linebacker in the State of Colorado turned down offers by more than 20 schools to stay in Boulder.
No word if Van Diest will be ready before the start of the 2018 season.