BREAKING WVU Suspends 11 Players Before Season Opener Against Eastern Kentucky
Sean Taylor
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Just hours before WVU season kicks off, Mike Casazza of 247Sports broke a report that Neal Brown has suspended 11 players for the season opener against Eastern Kentucky.
BREAKING: Sources tell @EerSportsDotCom #WVU has suspended 11 players for the opener against Eastern Kentucky. The list of names includes multiple starters. ?
? https://t.co/HevZs6Vew3 pic.twitter.com/Vjft7IPDsf— Mike Casazza (@mikecasazza) September 12, 2020
The players suspended include the following starters:
- Junior Uzebu (left tackle)
- Chase Behrndt (center)
- T.J. Simmons (wide receiver)
- Mike O’Laughlin (tight end)
- T.J. Banks (tight end)
As well as the following backups:
- Isaiah Esdale (wide receiver)
- J.P. Hadley (long snapper)
- Zach Dobson (wide receiver)
- Tairiq Stewart (tackle)
- David Vincent-Okoli (cornerback)
- Zach Davis (tackle)
According to Casazza’s report, this is a one-game suspension and the players will be back for the Oklahoma State game in two weeks. The suspensions are not related to COVID-19.
This will give some different young Mountaineers to step into a key role for the opener. Among those players include true freshman center Zach Frazier of Fairmont and left tackle Brandon Yates. It will also leave the Mountaineers very thin at slot receiver, with Simmons and Esdale being the only slot receivers listed on the roster.