Just unbelievably sad. Arguably the highest profile defensive recruit ever to sign with the University of Louisville will never play football again.
Team officials confirmed today that sophomore defensive end Deantwan "Peanut" Whitehead has congenital spinal stenosis, the same disorder that ended the career of starting right guard Mike Donoghue earlier this season.
Whitehead, who chose Louisville over Alabama and Auburn on national signing day in 2006, was named a Freshman All-American by The Sporting News after he started ten games and made four sacks for the Orange Bowl champions. In nine games this season he had made 25 tackles and two sacks.
Truly, truly awful news for a young man with enormous potential. Keep him in your thoughts.