BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Virginia Tech cornerback Antone Exum has a torn ligament in his right knee and could miss the start of the 2013 season.

The school announced Sunday that Exum tore his anterior cruciate ligament, though it did not say how, and was expected to miss six to nine months. The Hokies start their season Aug. 31 against Alabama.

Exum considered entering the draft as a junior but decided to return for his senior season in 2013. He was a second-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in 2012 and led the team with five interceptions and 16 passes broken up.