Frantrell Forrest pulls a defender into the end zone in a win over UTEP. (The Birmingham News/ Tamika Moore) Frantrell Forrest didn't expect to need crutches when he left Legion Field for the final time as a UAB football player.
The UAB wide receiver expected to finish one of the most productive careers in the program's history with a flourish. Forrest knew he didn't have enough games remaining to become the program's career leader in receptions, but he did expect to further distance himself from Roddy White as the No. 2 receiver in that category.
Most importantly, he expected to help his teammates celebrate Senior Day on Saturday with a Conference USA victory over Memphis at Legion Field.
Instead, he'll provide encouragement and senior leadership from the sideline because of the right knee injury suffered in the final seconds of UAB's loss to Marshall on Nov. 6.
"I never thought it would happen like that, especially seeing that I might have the best season of my career," Forrest said.
Forrest made 39 catches for 558 yards with four touchdowns in nine games during his final season in a UAB uniform.
Forrest was 10 catches shy of his career high in single- season catches and 5 yards short of tying his single- season best in receiving yardage.
His final catch against Marshall, which gave him 164 catches in his career, pushed Forrest one reception ahead of White for second place in career receptions at UAB.
The leader is Derrick Ingram, who made 207 catches from 1991 to 1994. Forrest finishes his playing career third in receiving yards (2,215) and receiving touchdowns (20).
Forrest's chance at improving those numbers ended on the second-to-last play in the 30-17 loss to Marshall.
"Actually, I feel like it's my fault," Forrest said. "On the previous series, the safety blindsided me from the back and knocked the wind out of me. I got so mad and frustrated and I looked over on their sideline and they were jumping around and happy that he did that. When I went back out there, I played with anger, which is not me."
Team chaplain Jhun Cook, a former UAB receiver, tried to calm Forrest down on the sideline before the Blazers' next series began.
"Jhun Cook had just told me, 'That's not you, don't go out there and hurt your future,' " Forrest said. "I rushed back on the field, trying to smash the guy, really block him, really get to him. I went out there, cut to try to go hit the guy, and I heard (my knee) pop."
Five days later, Forrest had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee.
"That's a tough thing," said UAB quarterback Bryan Ellis. "I know he'll battle and I know he'll work hard. I believe that wasn't the last football game he'll ever play. You hate to see it, but you know what kind of person he is and you know he'll be all right."
Forrest said he hasn't let himself "get negative" since the injury.
"I've had more people say, 'I'm so sorry,' " Forrest said. "I was like, 'I haven't really gotten down.' The only negative feeling I have is not being able to be out there the last three games. That hurts a lot."
He'll be with his teammates on Saturday, plans to travel with the team during the season-ending trip to Rice and has already started rehab on the knee.
He believes he'll be ready to test for pro scouts during UAB's Pro Day in the spring and he still plans on chasing an NFL dream.
"You can quote me on this: I plan on everyone from UAB seeing me play on Sundays," Forrest said. "That's my motivation. I know that's going to happen."