One particular student-athlete likely won't be pursuing a degree in science.
Ben Cleveland, a 6-7, 325-pound offensive lineman and 5-star recruit committed to Georgia, bizarrely injured his hand while participating in his science lab at Stephens County High School in Toccoa, Ga., last week, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
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“He was doing lab, and he was holding a glass bottle,” Stephens County football coach Frank Barden said. “I don’t know if it was the chemical in the glass, or from him squeezing it — but the glass broke. And he had to have some stitches in his hand.”
Cleveland, who also plays first base for Stephens County’s baseball team, is the state's No. 3 overall prospect for next year. He committed to UGA for the 2016 season last July at the school's "Dawg Night" prospect camp.
After receiving stitches, Cleveland sat out at least one of Stephens County’s baseball games and did not take part in the Nike or Rivals football camps in the Atlanta area last weekend.
“He’ll be fine,” Barden said. “He will be back at first base as soon as his stitches heal. They’re in his right hand, and he throws left-handed. I think they taped his ring finger and his middle finger together. He couldn’t wear a glove last week, but I think that was how he was going to be able to DH.”