When senior free safety Ryan DePalo made his first tackle of the season against the Houston Cougars last Saturday, he did so 18 weeks after surgery to repair the torn ACL in his left knee. DePalo’s “miraculous” recovery has excited his coaches and will solidify a secondary many are calling the best Oregon has fielded in years.
“It’s truly one of those miracles of modern medicine,” said coach Mike Bellotti. “And a testament to the young man. It’s just unbelievable.”
Secondary coach John Neal credited DePalo’s work ethic for his quick comeback.
“A guy like him, he breaks records because of his toughness and his work ethic,” said Neal. “So he shakes up the medical world…it’s been unbelievable.”
DePalo worked for three years to rise from special teams, to defensive reserve, to a projected starter when spring camp opened earlier this year. His grasp of the defense was close to complete, according to coaches, and his communication skills and presence of mind in positioning his teammates before the snap was an asset that was crucial to the whole defensive unit.
But less than a week into spring practices, DePalo suffered the torn ACL in his left knee during routine drills, an injury that was considered serious enough to sideline him for most of the season.
“My body went one way and my leg went the other way,” said DePalo. “It was the most painful feeling I’ve ever had as far as an injury but I didn’t know (how serious it was) until the doc came over and told me and then I just lost it.”
“He was our leading free safety and a guy that I expected to start for us,” said Neal. “It was a huge loss to have that happen to him. It was very difficult for him obviously and it was a big loss for the program.”
The most optimistic predictions for DePalo’s rehabilitation were around six months, setting his return date for mid-October. DePalo saw his senior season, and a starting role he had worked so hard to obtain, slip away. His only solution to salvage the season was to work harder than ever.
“I took every option available to me and put them all together,” said DePalo. “I was doing different kinds of rehab all day.
DePalo conferred with Oregon associate director of athletic medicine Kevin Steil as well as a specialist in Portland to craft a rehabilitation plan. He would work out in Eugene during the week with Oregon’s training staff and travel to Portland to train with his specialist on the weekends. He also pulled the occassional double shift, working out in Eugene early in the day and driving to Portland for an evening session.
“I would wake up every day and do rehab until night,” said DePalo. “That’s all that I did every day, just to get back.”
Now he’s back, he said, and the training staff observed only “minor” swelling in the knee after Saturday’s game. Bellotti said he was encouraged by how DePalo responded to full-speed action.
And though DePalo took part in just 15 of the defense’s 88 plays against Houston, he said he is ready for more.
“I don’t know what they have in store for me but hopefully I get a bigger role every week because I feel like I can take it on now,” said DePalo. “I feel like the more plays I get, the more I’ll be comfortable with.”
DePalo’s replacement, senior transfer Matt Harper, tallied a team-high 15 tackles against Houston. Neal said that the position will continue to be evaluated week to week.
“He (Harper) had 15 tackles, which is a bundle, but still as far as assignments and understanding things goes there’s always a little bit of uncertainty there,” said Neal. “I think if Matt plays at that level again and plays with great confidence in terms of lining up and knowing what’s going on then Ryan’s got a heck of a challenge to take playing time away.”
What separates DePalo from others at the position is his experience, said Neal, and his ability to help position his teammates based on how the offense lines up.
DePalo is hopeful about the season, but is taking his progress one step at a time.
“I think I needed that first week of just having a small role,” he said. “My next goal is just to get more playing time.”
Ryan DePalo
Year: Senior
Major: Business Administration
Position: Free safety
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 206
High School: Southridge HS (Beaverton, Ore.)