Penn State Football: Linebacker Michael Mauti Done for Season with ACL Tear

Penn State redshirt junior linebacker Michael Mauti will undergo surgery within the next two weeks to treat a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The ACL injury suffered during the first quarter of Penn State's 34-6 victory over Eastern Michigan forced Mauti out of the game and directly to the locker room with a towel hiding his saddened face.

Rehabilitation is expected to take nine months following surgery, which means Mauti is expected to be back on the field in 2012. The rehabilitation will keep Mauti inactive during offseason and spring workouts.

Mauti is not scheduled to be back on a practice field with the team until the summer camps. When he does return, expect Penn State to be light on Mauti's workload just as they have done in the past for players such as Paul Posluszny and Sean Lee and more.

Mauti missed the entire 2009 season with a torn ACL in his right knee and was given a medical redshirt season.

Mauti ends his season currently tied with defensive tackle Devon Still for the most tackles on the team, with 21.

Senior cornerback D'Anton Lynn was carted off the field on a stretcher following a neck injury that left him on the ground mostly motionless while the play continued. A scary scene had a positive ending when he was checking in to Mount Nittany Medical Center, examined and released late Saturday afternoon.

He will be examined by team doctors as the week progresses and his availability for Saturday's Big Ten opener at Indiana will be determined as the week goes by.

The loss of Mauti means fifth-year senior Nate Stupar will be thrust in to a starting position on the outside, which is as good of a replacement as possible considering the circumstances for Penn State. Stupar stepped right in for Mauti against Eastern Michigan and was quick to record one of Penn State's three sacks in the game.

Stupar is a solid defensive player and would probably be starting on most teams in the nation, so having him as a backup is a nice luxury to have for a program known for their linebackers.

Stupar may not match Mauti's overall talent but he will help fill a void in leadership on the defensive side as a motivated veteran player on Penn State's roster.

Kevin McGuire is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand or via official interview materials from Penn State University. 

McGuire is the national college football writer for Examiner.com. Follow his college football discussion on Google+ and Twitter. Become a fan of him on Facebook.