Boston College will look to establish the run with authority on Saturday against Louisville. The chances of that happening may be a little better as the Cardinals will be without one of their top defensive players. Linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin will be out of action this weekend due to a hamstring injury. Head coach Bobby Petrino announced the status of his top linebacker Thursday.
“It’s unfortunate,” Petrino said, per The Courier-Journal. “He’s played real well. It’s just a situation where he needs more time.”
Mauldin is Louisville’s fourth-leading tackler this season with 39 tackles, including 12.0 for a loss and 6.5 sacks.
Hamstring injuries are unpredictable, so it is unknown just how much time Mauldin will need off before getting back on the field. It is not uncommon for teams to evaluate hamstring injuries on a week-by-week basis. This week is Louisville’s final ACC game, but in two weeks the Cardinals travel to Notre Dame. The regular season ends at home against in-state rival Kentucky, with the rivalry now moving to the end of the season to join other ACC-SEC rivalries on the final week of the season.
With Mauldin out against Boston College, Trevon Young and Nick Dawson are expected to see playing time in his absence. The two have combined to appear in 15 games this season. Petrino said not much will change with the defensive schemes, and it should be expected Young and Dawson split playing time depending on downs and situations.
“They both have different strengths that they have,” Petrino said of Young and Dawson. “They’re both good players.”
Boston College and Louisville are playing for third place in the ACC Atlantic Division this weekend. The Eagles, at 3-2, are just ahead of Louisville (4-3) in ACC play. Both are chasing first-place Florida State and second-place Clemson, but third place will be as high as either can climb in the division.