TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama linebacker Trey DePriest will miss the team’s upcoming game against West Virginia due to a “minor NCAA infraction,” head coach Nick Saban announced Wednesday.
Saban referred to the suspension as a “one-time thing,” and added that the linebacker should be eligible to return for next week’s game against Florida Atlantic.
Reggie Ragland and Reuben Foster will step into the starting linebacker positions on Saturday, with Dillon Lee and true freshman Shaun Dion Hamilton as their backups.
DePriest has battled injuries throughout the offseason, giving Ragland and Foster the opportunity to work with the first team and gain more experience. It also helps that Foster can now tackle correctly without knocking himself out.
Alabama outside linebacker Denzel Devall said the team is prepared to play without DePriest.
“We’re not too much worried about it,” Devall said. “We have great personnel and great players and we’re going to be ready come Saturday.”
The returning senior DePriest started every game last season and was selected to the Preseason All-SEC Team. He is thought to be the star successor to C.J. Mosley, which he still may be, but Alabama will have to wait at least a week to see his season begin.
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