ACL tear ends Renfree’s year

Quarterback Sean Renfree had played very little in recent weeks as senior Thaddeus Lewis lit up ACC opponents. Now, Renfree won’t play at all for the foreseeable future. The redshirt freshman suffered a torn right ACL against Georgia Tech Saturday, and the injury’s rehabilitation period typically extends for several months, if not longer. Renfree was hurt late in the third quarter of the home matchup with the Yellow Jackets while running the offense as Duke trailed 42-10. The Blue Devils ultimately lost 49-10. Renfree’s setback will cost him the last two games of this year, but its impact on the Blue Devils’ future may be even more significant. With Renfree out of the equation, the only remaining quarterback on Duke’s roster is freshman Sean Schroeder, whom the coaching staff intended to redshirt this year. Lewis has struggled with a leg injury the last two weeks, and if he is too injured to play, Schroeder could be forced into emergency action. The torn ACL could also force Renfree to miss spring practice altogether, although no prognosis has yet been given for his recovery. Renfree did not appear in the Blue Devils’ season opener, but split time with Lewis in the next four games. His best performance came in an early-season win against Army in which he threw for 106  yards and two touchdowns on 7-for-8 passing. Renfree finishes his first full season at Duke with 330 yards passing and four touchdowns on 34-of-50 attempts. Duke closes the season with a road game at Miami Saturday before facing Wake Forest Nov. 28 at Wallace Wade Stadium.