O’Shea Caslin thought his football career was over. But after sitting out all of last season following neck surgery, the former East Ridge High School defensive tackle will play in tonight’s annual Tennessee/Georgia all-star game at Baylor, hoping to prove he is fully recovered and ready to play in college.
The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and is the first in a series of all-star games pitting recently graduated area players. Tennessee graduates have won the last three football meetings.
The 6-foot, 270-pound Caslin was diagnosed with a condition that can lead to cysts developing on the spinal cord. He underwent surgery on Aug. 19 to repair the problem, thought to be a congenital defect, and didn’t play a down last season. But he has been cleared to resume his athletic career.
“I was nervous when I first got back out there, but I missed the game so much, and when the doctors said I could go back, I couldn’t wait,” Caslin said. “After that first day at practice, I wasn’t nervous anymore, and it felt like I hadn’t been gone at all.
“I would love to prove I can still play and get a chance to play in college. If not, I will still probably try to walk on somewhere and earn a scholarship.”