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Big 12 program suspends whopping 11 players for season opener
By Keith Farner
Published:
A host of suspensions have landed at West Virginia just before its game against Eastern Kentucky, and they’re not COVID-related.
The suspensions are related to a violation of team rules, according to a report from Mike Casazza. EerSports reported that 11 players are not allowed to play when the Mountaineers play at Milan Puskar Stadium.
“A source said to expect quite a few changes to the two-deep the team released Monday, particularly on offense, which will be without multiple starters. The source said head coach Neal Brown suspended starting left tackle Junior Uzebu, starting center Chase Behrndt, starting inside receiver T.J. Simmons, backup inside receiver Isaiah Esdale, backup inside receiver Zack Dobson, tight ends Mike O’Laughlin and T.J. Banks, backup offensive linemen Tairiq Stewart and Zach Davis, backup cornerback David Vincent-Okoli and backup long snapper J.P. Hadley.”
Each player is reportedly eligible to return for WVU’s second game on the road against Oklahoma State on Sept. 26. It’s unclear when the incident happened, but the report said that the staff had time to plan and practice accordingly, but the offense will look and perhaps behave differently.
Understandably, the huge number of suspensions shifted the betting line by 2.5 points.
DraftKings drops West Virginia to a 41-point favorite on this news. Was at 43.5. https://t.co/FTSrV0Yztx
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 12, 2020
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
