USF offensive tackle Mike McGowan, a sophomore from Boca Raton, will not be able to play football again due to a knee injury and will be placed on medical scholarship.

McGowan, who played in one game last season as a redshirt freshman, underwent arthoscopic knee surgery in April after USF's spring game. USF coach Jim Leavitt had hoped he might be able to lower his weight (and the burden on his knees) and contribute at tight end or long-snapper, but McGowan will not be able to continue playing in any capacity.

McGowan is the second USF offensive lineman to go on medical scholarship in the past year, joining tackle Danny Tolley of Wesley Chapel. Walk-on Joe Herzhauser, who worked with the second-team offensive line last season, also saw his college career ended early by a serious knee injury.

McGowan remains on scholarship at USF but does not count against the NCAA football maximum of 85 scholarships. McGowan is expected to help the team as part of USF football's video department, working under video coordinator Jamie DeGerome.

With USF under the NCAA maximum, Leavitt has at least one scholarship available that could be used on a prominent walk-on. Leavitt has already placed Cameron Perkins, a senior walk-on defensive back, on scholarship for this fall.