Orange offensive tackle Jonathan Meldrum will not be able to continue his collegiate football career due to arthritis in his right knee. Syracuse team physician Dr. Irving Raphael has medically disqualified Meldrum from further physical participation with the Orange football team.
Meldrum, who enrolled at Syracuse in January 2007 having had two surgeries on his right knee, including one in 2003 and one in 2004, experienced some discomfort in his right knee during 2007 Spring practice. An MRI revealed the early stages of arthritis. He underwent major surgery in December 2007 to address the arthritis after experiencing discomfort during the 2007 season. Meldrum remained symptom-free while participating in football for nearly two years, but during October 2009, he again began experiencing arthritic symptoms in his right knee. An injury to his left knee during the Pittsburgh game on November 7 forced him to miss the rest of the 2009 season and gave his arthritic right knee an opportunity to rest and respond to treatment. Raphael and Meldrum met on November 29 to discuss the consequences of further participation on his arthritic right knee and the potential for his newly injured left knee to develop a similar condition. The next day Raphael, with Meldrum’s understanding and acknowledgement of the condition of his knees, disqualified Meldrum from further participation.
A junior communication and rhetorical studies major, Meldrum played in 28 games for the Orange, including nine starts this season. He was part of two offensive lines that blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in Delone Carter (2009) and Curtis Brinkley (2008).