Lance Brandenburgh will replace injured linebacker Bo Ruud and start for Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl, NU defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said Tuesday.

Ruud, a sophomore WILL linebacker, broke his arm in Sunday’s practice. He had surgery Tuesday.

Brandenburgh, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound sophomore from Overland Park, Kan., has 17 tackles, including five for a loss, in seven games. He’s battled various injuries, dating to spring practice.

“Lance was competing to be a starter before he got hurt early in the year, so I have a lot of confidence in him,” Cosgrove said. “As the season moved on, you saw him play more and more.

Ruud, a sophomore from Lincoln, was the Huskers’ second-leading tackler. He’s the third Nebraska starting linebacker to suffer a season-ending injury this season.

“I tell the guys all of the time that they’re one play away,” Cosgrove said. “We’ve been very fortunate that no matter what the situation was this year, our guys have stepped up. And I fully expect Lance to do the same thing.”

* SOUDER NO. 2: With Brandenburgh moving into the starting WILL linebacker spot, true freshman Jeff Souder becomes the No. 2 player at the position, Cosgrove said. Souder has played primarily this season on special teams. “He’s been in games,” Cosgrove said. “He’s not going to panic once he gets on the field. He just needs a lot of practice reps, which he’s going to get.” Also, starting MIKE linebacker Corey McKeon is seeing some practice time at WILL and could play some snaps there, with true freshman Phillip Dillard playing at MIKE.

* INJURY REPORT: Tight end Josh Mueller left Tuesday’s practice with his left leg heavily bandaged. He was walking under his own power but limping badly. Cosgrove, who addressed the media Tuesday, said he didn’t know details of Mueller’s injury.