U of L's Mauldin out vs. Boston College

If the University of Louisville football team plans to stop Boston College and its 10th-ranked rushing attack this weekend, the Cardinals will have to do it without star linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin.

Mauldin, a senior who leads the team in sacks, is out for Saturday's 7:15 p.m. kickoff at BC because of a nagging hamstring injury, U of L coach Bobby Petrino said on Thursday.

The 6-foot-4, 252-pound former defensive end tweaked his hamstring in Louisville's Oct. 18 win over NC State and recovered enough to play last Thursday against Florida State.

He left the FSU game before halftime to receive extra treatment on his hamstring and played the second half at what he said was about 75 percent.

"It's unfortunate," Petrino said. "He's played real well. It's just a situation where he needs more time."

Junior Trevon Young and sophomore Nick Dawson will play more snaps in Mauldin's place, Petrino said.

Young, a junior-college transfer, is a pass-rushing specialist who's appeared in seven games this year. Dawson is a thicker, run-stopping linebacker with eight games under his belt this season.

"We run our package and run what we do," Petrino said. "They both have different strengths that they have. They're both good players."​

The news was balanced a bit by the update on middle linebacker James Burgess, who also was shaken up during Louisville's loss to FSU. He will play on Saturday.

Reach U of L beat writer Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter (@jeffgreer_cj).