LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Louisville defensive end Deantwan "Peanut" Whitehead's football career has ended due to a spinal condition that showed up after an injury in last week's loss to West Virginia.
Whitehead was diagnosed Thursday with congenital cervical spinal stenosis after seeing a specialist in Indianapolis, the school said. He was injured on a tackle early in the 38-31 loss to West Virginia on Nov. 8.
The condition is a narrowing of the spinal column around the spinal cord, the same problem that ended the career of teammate Mike Donoghue, an offensive lineman, last month.
Whitehead, a 6-foot-6, 250-pounder from Birmingham, Ala., had 25 tackles and two sacks in nine games for the Cardinals this season. He played in all 13 games as a true freshman last season and recorded 16 tackles and four sacks.
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