per ESPN.com.....

Mississippi State football recruit Deljuan Robinson will undergo surgery July 18 in Memphis to correct a leaky heart valve and will miss the 2002 season.

The heart problem was diagnosed a few days before the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Classic last month in Mobile, Ala., a game in which Robinson played.

''It's not a life-threatening problem, but it's something I need to get taken care of if I want to continue to play football,'' said Robinson, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive lineman. ''I was born with it. The doctors said it had gotten worse over the years.''

According to his mother, Robinson won't face an extended hospital stay or a long period of inactivity.

''If everything goes OK, he'll go from surgery to intensive care for two days, but then he should be able to go home after five days,'' Annette Bell said. ''With him being a strong young man, the doctors said it shouldn't be a problem. According to how Deljuan does, he could start exercising again in six weeks.''

Robinson is hoping to report with State's newcomers Aug. 2. He is waiting on his ACT results from June to determine if he's met NCAA freshman eligibility requirements.

''I was kind of down about (the surgery) at first, but then I realized I need to do it to accomplish some of my goals in life,'' Robinson said. ''I've gotten over it.''

Actually, Deljaun didn't have the surgery. He's going to get a second opinion. He may have the surgery eventually, but he didn't have it on Thursday.