Senior offensive lineman John Ferranto will miss the 2016 football season after tearing a left pectoral muscle during a Monday workout.

Ferranto had surgery Wednesday to repair the injury, according to UNC Athletics.  Dr. Alex Creighton performed the surgery at UNC Hospital.  Recovery time is expected to be six months.

John Ferranto has started in 17 of his 37 career games.  In his sophomore season, he started all 13 games for the Tar Heels.  In 2015, he started four games.  He is a native of Burlington, New Jersey.

Despite the injury, the Tar Heels will still enter the 2016 season with an experience offensive line.  Tackle Jon Heck was recently named to the Outland Trophy watchlist, an award given to the nation’s best interior lineman.  But, the group will still need to find a replacement for Landon Turner, the Tar Heels’ All-American guard who is now a member of the New Orleans Saints.