CLEMSON, SC - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Bobby Petrino of the Louisville Cardinals, left, meets with head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers prior to their game at Memorial Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Tyler Smith/Getty Images)

Potential ACC starter reportedly suffers in-practice ACL tear

He may have to redshirt.

The Louisville Cardinals and coach Bobby Petrino received some unfortunate injury news as freshman running back Dae Williams tore his ACL during practice.

Williams' parents, Jon and Monica, told the Louisville Courier-Journal that their son will have surgery this week, and the recovery time is estimated to be around six months.

Related: Possible starting ACC QB gets horrible injury news from team scrimmage 

"He had great momentum, and this is disheartening, of course," Jon Williams said. "... But I know he's resilient and he has a lot of fight in him, so I expect him to come back and be better and improved than he was. I think he'll be great, he'll be fine."

Williams was only a two-star recruit out of high school, but the 6'2, 230-pound back was taking first-team reps with the starters during spring practices.

Louisville has some depth issues at running back, so senior Reggie Bonnafon, who normally plays receiver, will take some snaps at RB for the Cardinals. Trey Smith and Malik Williams will also share some reps during the spring, and four-star RB Colin Wilson is set to enroll this summer.

Williams redshirted in 2016, but he might be eligible for a medical redshirt in 2017 if he isn't healthy by October.

(h/t The Spun)