Aug. 17, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., - Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti (Mandeville, La.) will miss the 2009 season after suffering a serious knee injury in practice on Sunday.
A sophomore, Mauti tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, according to Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State Director of Athletic Medicine. Mauti will have surgery within the next three weeks and rehabilitation will take approximately nine months, according to Sebastianelli.
The 6-2, 231-pound Mauti played as a true freshman in 2008 and has a redshirt year available. He was expected to challenge for a starting assignment at linebacker.
A U.S. Army All-American at Mandeville (La.) High School, Mauti was one of three true freshmen to play in every Penn State game last year. Playing defense and special teams, he made 26 tackles, with one minus-yardage stop and one forced fumble. He delivered one of the biggest hits of the season when he forced a fumble on a kickoff return in the 46-17 win over Michigan. Mauti made a season-high seven tackles vs. the Wolverines, including a tackle for loss. He also made three stops in the wins over Indiana and Michigan State.
Mauti's older brother, Patrick, is a senior wide receiver with the Nittany Lions. Their father, Rich, lettered as a wide receiver at Penn State in 1975 and '76 and played in the National Football League with the New Orleans Saints (1977-83) and Washington Redskins (1984).
Coach Joe Paterno's No. 8 Nittany Lions are in their second week of pre-season practice in anticipation of the Sept. 5 season opener vs. Akron at 12:00 p.m. The contest will air on the Big Ten Network, the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.