Injury puts Curtis Drake's football season with Penn State in jeopardy

Penn State wide receiver Curtis Drake, a West Catholic High graduate, has suffered a second setback that will keep him out of the rest of spring practice and make his availability for the 2011 season uncertain.

Drake, a redshirt sophomore, suffered what athletic department spokesman Jeff Nelson called "a left leg injury" during a noncontact drill Wednesday.

Drake had broken his left tibia last August, early in preseason practice, during a noncontact drill.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Thursday that Drake had suffered a similar injury, but Nelson said he had no information to confirm the report.

Even though he probably could have returned for Penn State's last two or three games last season, Drake sat out the entire year to retain a full season of eligibility.

Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno said the loss of Drake left the team missing a valuable contributor to the offense.

As a freshman, Drake, who played quarterback in high school, caught eight passes for 98 yards, rushed four times for 24 yards, and threw for a touchdown on his only pass attempt.