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Michigan State’s Watts-Jackson has hip surgery after scoring

Michigan State defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson (20) is surrounded by jubilant teammates after he recovered a fumbled snap on a punt in the closing seconds of the second half and returned it for a touchdown during an NCAA college football game against Michigan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Watts-Jackson lumbered 38 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the game, giving No. 7 Michigan State a shocking 27-23 win over No. 12 Michigan. (Melanie Maxwell/The Ann Arbor News/MLive.com via AP) Michigan State defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson (20) is surrounded by jubilant teammates after he recovered a fumbled snap on a punt in the closing seconds of the second half and returned it for a touchdown during an NCAA college football game against Michigan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Watts-Jackson lumbered 38 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the game, giving No. 7 Michigan State a shocking 27-23 win over No. 12 Michigan. (Melanie Maxwell/The Ann Arbor News/MLive.com via AP)

By Associated Press October 18, 2015 1 min read

Michigan State defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson has had hip surgery a day after scoring the winning touchdown on the final play against Michigan.

Watts-Jackson was in the right place to catch a floating football that Wolverines punter Blake O’Neill fumbled Saturday. He returned it 38 yards to lift the Spartans to a startling 27-23 victory.

He didn’t have much chance to celebrate. The redshirt freshman appeared to land hard on his left hip after he was tackled into the end zone by Michigan tight end Jake Butt.

Joyous teammates then jumped on Watts-Jackson as he lay on a maize “M” in the end zone. He was carted off the field and hospitalized.

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AP College Football: www.collegefootball.ap.org