Huskies WR Pounds back in action after 2nd ACL tear
Published 1:30 am Thursday, August 9, 2018
By Adam Jude / The Seattle Times
SEATTLE — Chico McClatcher isn’t the only Washington wide receiver making a comeback from major injury.
For the second time in his Husky career, Quinten Pounds last fall went down with a season-ending knee injury. He appeared in three games as a true freshman in 2015 before suffering a torn ACL in his right knee. He then tore the ACL in his left knee during a practice leading up to the Oregon game in November 2017.
“Obviously, it was crushing when it happened,” Pounds said. “But it’s been a lot easier this time, knowing what to expect and having a positive attitude (during rehab).”
Like McClatcher, Pounds was back on the field last week for the start of fall-camp practices, and the fourth-year junior from Cypress, Calif., has been one of the team’s most consistent receivers through the start of camp.
“I feel great,” he said. “The second time through, I know everything that I’ve been through before and I know how to attack it mentally and physically. I know it’s all about having a positive attitude and just trying to be the best I can for my teammates.”
The 6-foot, 180-pound Pounds has 16 catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns in his UW career. His most memorable play was a 43-yard TD grab at Colorado last season in which he out-jumped two defenders in the end zone.
On Tuesday afternoon, he made a similar leaping catch over top cornerback Byron Murphy for a big gain during a team period.
“People have told me, ‘You tear both of your ACLs and you’re not going to be the same person.’ But I’ve never listened to what someone else has to say about me. I always just do the best I can and not worry about other people,” Pounds said.
Pounds said going through recovery and rehab with McClatcher — who tore the ACL and sustained a broken ankle in his left leg last fall — helped both receivers.
“To have someone with you at the same time is a big deal,” Pounds said. “You never want to go through it alone, especially when you’re off the field and you really feel alone. To have another receiver with you right there, step by step pushing each other, I think it really helped us both recover faster because we were both competing against each other every day.”
The team’s plan with both receivers is to ease them back into the mix gradually this month.
“Both those guys (Pounds and McClatcher) have looked good,” UW coach Chris Petersen said. “We just need to be smart with all these guys because they haven’t played football in a long time. But they’ve done a great job of rehabbing and it’s nice to get those guys back out there and I think a lot of guys are kind of battling through, still coming through. We need those guys.”
