MUSIC CITY BOWL

Petrino mum on U of L's Belk Bowl QB

Jeff Greer
@jeffgreer_cj
Third string U of L quarterback Kyle Bolin points to the home crowd after leading his team to its second touchdown in the first half.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As he has for the last three weeks in the buildup to Tuesday's Belk Bowl, University of Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino played coy on Monday when asked who will start at quarterback for the Cardinals against Georgia.

Freshman Reggie Bonnafon and redshirt freshman Kyle Bolin have taken equal reps in practice.

"We're real fortunate that we have two guys who have experience and have been in big games and won games for us," Petrino said.

"We're going to let you see when they run out there who the starter is. I do feel like both of them will definitely play."

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Bonnafon, who has started five games for the Cards this season, suffered a bone bruise in his knee in the second quarter of Louisville's 44-40 win over Kentucky a month ago. Bolin replaced Bonnafon and threw for 381 yards and three touchdowns.

Petrino said two weeks ago that he was "encouraged" by the progress Bonnafon made in returning from his injury, and practice reports over the weekend indicated that the Louisville native, a dual-threat quarterback, appeared to running without a limp.

Even Louisville's players said at Monday's Belk Bowl media day that they didn't know who the starter would be.

"I wish I knew," offensive tackle Jamon Brown said.

"Coach Petrino does a great job of not tipping his hand. Both of them have been working into practice and getting the same amount of reps. They both bring something different to the table, but they're both good football players. We know we have to be behind them."

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