Syracuse, N.Y. -- Aaron Roberts felt the awkward landing in his right knee, but thought little of it.
Going through a hurdle drill during a workout last summer, the Syracuse football offensive lineman paused only briefly before continuing and finishing the session. It wasn't until the joint swelled up overnight that he sought an MRI and learned of his fate: a clean ACL tear.
"It was just some freak accident type stuff," Roberts said on Friday, during his first interview since sustaining the injury.
Through the roller coaster that was the Orange's 2017 season, all Roberts could do was stand and watch from the sidelines.