CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – A bumpy pre-season has taken an unfortunate twist for the University of Northern Iowa’s football team.

Sophomore Josh Collins, the Panthers’ top returning receiver, suffered a knee injury in Wednesday’s practice and will miss the entire 2009 season, according to head coach Mark Farley.

Farley said Thursday that Collins tore an anterior cruciate ligament during an outdoor workout on the Panthers’ natural grass field.

“It was one of those things,” said Farley. “(Collins) was practicing hard, made a cut on the field … and the knee didn’t come with him.”

Following an impressive freshman season at UNI, Collins earned a spot on the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s all-newcomer team. The 5-foot-9, 193-pound Sioux City West graduate caught a Panther-high 32 passes for 502 yards. His lone touchdown came in UNI’s 2008 debut at Brigham Young.

His season-ending injury comes on the heels of five suspensions issued by Farley over recent days. Offensive linemen Evan Tecklenburg and Misha Danilov, backup quarterback Zach Davis plus running backs Derrick Law and Taylor Brookins have all been benched by Farley for disciplinary reasons.

Farley was also uncertain Thursday who would replace the receiver in the starting lineup.