Report: WVU Suspends 11 Players for Season Opener vs EKU

UPDATE  – 11:06 a.m.

The suspensions of 11 student-athletes have been confirmed by WVU Athletics. In an email, WVU Athletics said the 11 players have been suspended for “a violation for team rules”.

Original Story

According to a report by Mike Casazza of 247Sports, West Virginia head coach Neal Brown has suspended 11 players for the team’s season-opener against Eastern Kentucky this afternoon.

Seven of the players reportedly suspended were listen on WVU’s two-deep depth chart released on Monday. The players are:

Starters:

• Junior Uzebu (left tackle)
• Chase Behrndt (center)
• T.J. Simmons (wide receiver)
• Mike O’Laughlin (tight end)
• T.J. Banks (tight end)

Backups:

• Isaiah Esdale (wide receiver)
• J.P. Hadley (long snapper)

Depth players:

• Zach Dobson (wide receiver)
• Tairiq Stewart (tackle)
• David Vincent-Okoli (cornerback)
• Zach Davis (tackle)

Casazza reports that this is a one-game suspension and all players will be eligible to return for WVU’s second game against Oklahoma State in two weeks. Casazza also reports that the suspensions are not related to positive COVID-19 tests.

According to the two-deep depth chart, replacements for the starters could be Brandon Yates at left tackle and Zach Frazier at center.

Simmons and Esdale were the only players listed at slot receiver and O’Laughlin and Banks were the only tight ends listed.