Ohio State sophomore linebacker Trey Johnson, once a prized recruit, will end his football career after doctors diagnosed him with arthritis in his right knee, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.
Johnson, a Georgia native who had knee surgery in high school, told the newspaper he has torn his meniscus and had his right knee cleaned out twice since he’s been in Columbus.
“They told me I have arthritis in my knee. On a scale of one to five they said I’m a three now. It wasn’t that I couldn’t play. It was more of a future thing," he told the Daily Post.
"If I was going to keep playing, it would get worse and by the time I’m 30 I would have trouble walking and doing basic things. They didn’t say I had to hang it up, but it was the best for my future. So I was kind of forced to hang up the cleats.”
Johnson told the Daily Post he will be involved with the football team in hopes of becoming a coach someday. He told the outlet he will work with co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell as a student assistant.
Johnson said head coach Urban Meyer offered the suggestion.
"It’s something I’d really like to do," Johnson said. "They said I had a good understanding of the game, a good feel for the game.”
