Riverdale's D'Andre Litaker has ACL tear, to miss rest of season

Riverdale's football team and senior defensive lineman D'Andre Litaker feared the worst over the weekend.

On Monday, it was confirmed that Litaker, a University of Tennessee commitment, suffered a torn ACL on his right knee during Friday's 49-24 win over Spring Hill.

It's a same knee he battled an MCL sprain more than a year ago, but not the one in which he had ACL surgery a year ago.

"Hopefully he will be able to rehab and get back on the field next summer or fall," said Riverdale coach Will Kriesky.

The 6-foot-2, 300-pound tackle has played only a handful of high school football games in his career.

Litaker played just 10 plays during the 2016 season before missing the rest of the year with an ACL injury in his left knee.

"It's really disappointing for Dre," said Kriesky. "He's had so much adversity in his life, but he still stays positive. He's dealt with more in his 18 years than most people deal with in 40 or 50 years.

"It's a big blow for him. Everyone is upset for him."

Litaker lost his mother to an automobile accident last November before being taken in by the family of teammate Jarek Campbell.

Litaker was No. 6 on The Tennessean's Dandy Dozen and was off to a good start to the 2017 season.

His Warriors have allowed an average of 10 points a contest en route to a  4-0 start. Litaker had 12 tackles (four for loss) and a sack in three-plus games.

He committed to Tennessee in mid-June after also receiving offers from schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Texas A&M, Florida and LSU.

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Litaker is a four-star prospect and is the eighth-ranked player in Tennessee and 21st nationally at his position, according to 247Sports.

Riverdale will face fellow unbeaten and 3-6A foe Oakland in the Battle of the Boro Friday at 7 p.m. at OHS.

"This kills us from a depth situation," Kriesky said. "Plus, (Litaker) is a high-profile player and outstanding defensive lineman. It will hurt. But, like the last situation, it will be the next man up. The guys will step up."

Riverdale lost senior quarterback Christian Souffront to a season-ending leg injury, suffered in the Warriors' Week 2 win over Franklin.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.