West Virginia will be without one of its eight returning starters when it faces Alabama in the Georgia Dome on Saturday.

Coach Dana Holgorsen announced Monday that senior cornerback Ismael “Icky” Banks had been reinstated, but suspended for the first three games due to an academic issue with the NCAA.

Banks, who has played in 36 games with the Mountaineers had two interceptions and 32 tackles when he started every game last season

Junior Terrell Chestnut is behind him on the depth chart at left cornerback, while sophomore Daryl Worley is the other cornerback. Banks will be eligible to return for the Big 12 opener against Oklahoma Sept. 20.

The season opener for both teams will kick off at 3:36 p.m on ABC or ESPN2.