Etheridge: 'I'm just blessed to be able to walk'

Doctors tell Auburn safety he might return to football despite broken vertebra

AUBURN - Zac Etheridge sat upright, his eyes straight ahead, his chin slightly extended and his posture rigid.

The Auburn junior wore a neck brace attached to a harness-like padding on his chest and shoulders, and he looked uncomfortable.

But on Tuesday afternoon, Etheridge was smiling, grateful that three days after a frightening injury he was able to walk around, visit with teammates and even entertain hope of playing football again.

"I'm just blessed to be able to walk," Etheridge said.

Etheridge tore neck ligaments and cracked his fifth vertebra while trying to make a tackle in the first quarter of Auburn's win against Ole Miss Saturday. Etheridge collided with teammate Antonio Coleman and landed on top of Ole Miss running back Rodney Scott.

Etheridge was immobilized - with Scott still underneath him - taken off the field on a stretcher and transported to hospitals in Opelika and then Birmingham.

It was the few moments after the collision, when Etheridge feared he might be paralyzed, that were the most terrifying.

"Just laying on the ground, it felt weird not being able to control your body," Etheridge said. "I take my hat off to Rodney Scott. If he would have moved, I wouldn't be here today. I'd still be lying in the hospital bed."

Etheridge said he began to regain feeling in his body and was encouraged to give a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was wheeled off the field. He was able to walk in the hospital, where he was met by his parents, who were following the ambulance.

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